Tennis - any coaches or knowledgable parents around?

[sittinginthesun]

DS1 is 8 years old, just about to start year 4, and is developing quite a passion for tennis.

It's donkeys years since I played, so I'm feeling my way a bit. He's currently having squad lessons twice a week, is a member at the club, and plays every tournament he can at the club.

The club is fanstastic, very local and he made lots of friends. Coaches are lovely, but a bit rubbish at admin, and never seem to add his matches to the website (the national one), so he's still technically been playing red ball, although he actually has lessons with orange ball, and sometimes the normal yellow one.

Just wondered if anyone could let me know what he can do from here? Are there other matches etc he can play? He's not brilliant, but does play well and absolutely loves it.
Cheers.

[Verybadmummy]

Hi.
My DS also is 8 and has a passion for tennis.
If your DS is really keen and the club he plays with do not seem to be helping enough then I suggest visiting the lta web site and looking for other clubs that offer mini tennis programmes. If you have no jot there then I suggest that you ring your local lta office- their details will be on the lta site and in my experience they are really helpful.
If he is good then try and get him on a performance programme so that you will get help and advice about training and tournaments.
I also found that I got a lot of information from other parents I met a tournaments (although avoid the pushy ones shouting at their kids- don't get me started on that!!!!)
Once he starts playing more grade 4 and 5 tournaments at orange ball you can see how well he is doing by checking the county competition leadership boards. They get awarded points depending on how far they get in each tournament. My son loves this!
One tip is that it is best to avoid yellow ball at this stage. The yellow balls are too hard for them- if they play yellow ball against an adult or strong hitter it can cause injuries. The orange balls are designed to be slower and softer. After orange ball he should move up to green ball which is played on a full court.
Hope that helps!!! (sorry for the essay!)
Where are you based? If you are in the midlands I would be happy to meet up at a tournament and fill you in on the joys of being a tennis mum.
One final word of warning on this mega long post- my DS is almost addicted to tennis. He plays 5 times a week and loves it. As long as he keeps loving it I will keep supporting him. A lot of kids get this way so be prepared to be a taxi to tournaments!!!

[sittinginthesun]

Thank you, that is really helpful!

His lessons are generally orange ball, unless it's a mixed age summer camp, and he is the the club's "Performance Squad", but I gather that that means he has lessons twice a week. I haven't forked out for individual lessons at this stage, but he is regularly beating the children who are having individual lessons, so it seems okay.

It is a great club, very local, good facilities etc, just the admin is a bit dodgy. I think I'll have a word with the main coach and ask if he needs a hand putting score on the website. Do you know if individuals can do this or if it has to be a coach?

We're in Herts, so a bit away from you, I'm afraid, but thanks for the offer!

Just got back from holiday club, and he's nagging to go to the tennis club...:)

[Verybadmummy]

Sounds like he is really good. May be worth ringing your local lta to see of there is a county performance squad. My son goes to one but still does a squad each week at his local club do he gets best of both.
The tournament results can only be put on by a coach and they often need chasing. If he is beating other players on his club why not enter him into other tournaments in the county or region. They are all listed on the lta site. They start at level 6 which are local/ club tournaments and go up to level 2 which are national. Level 4 and 5 are county level and level 3 are regional. My DS has spent this summer season doing level 4 and 5 orange tournaments as he too is still technically a red player and these have been a good level. Next season we will try some level 3 tournaments but it is important not to push them too hard or it will effect their tennis.
My DS loves it too. He has had 2 weeks off due to holidays and he has really missed it. I love that he is do into something that will keep him fit and busy. Our local club let them go and play all day and the coaches keep and eye on them!! (free childcare!!)
Hope it goes well for your DS.

[iseenodust]

I would talk to the coach you've got first. Only certain matches count for the national computer and I think it's the hosting venue that enters match results not your DS's club's responsibility?

DS turned 8 this week. So age wise he should be red ball but the computer has just turned him orange. His coach says he will still play some red cluster matches (local & part of the mini tennis prog) for confidence and it helps to mix it up / with agility. This is not uncommon - as a naive mum I was wondering why some of DS's red tournament opponents were so much taller/thrashing him then found they were orange from results on computer.

Currently DS does 1.5hrs split 1 hr squad and 30 mins 1 to 1 with a low level coach. From Sept going to 1 hr orange sqd, 30 mins good coach, 30 mins low level coach, 30 mins with teenage coach helper. This takes him in line with the LTA suggested time per week.

He's at the club all this week 10-3 for a tennis camp ! Maybe somewhere near you does one of these in school hols?