My child’s progress seems slow, how long will it take for my child to get good at tennis?

Tennis is a difficult sport.   To participate in a simple mini rally, your child requires ball tracking skills, balance & posture control, organised footwork patterns, wrist & arm strength, racquet face control and an understanding of basic tennis technique.  To become a competent fixture player, your child requires all the above skills AND must develop sound technique for at least 6 different strokes as well as tactical awareness. This process evolves over years of practise, with continuity and repetition the key.

Most tournament-level junior players practise and compete 5-6 times a week so it is important parents have realistic expectations regarding their children’s tennis – Especially if they are playing only once or twice a week. Each child will progress at a different rate and it is important parents don’t compare their child or see their child as failing because they are not picking up skills as quickly as other children.

At Tennis For Kids our coaches are trained to create a fun and structured learning environment.  Our priority is to create an environment your child will love and give them a sport they can play for life.  Over time your child will develop all the skills they need to become a competent tennis player and just as importantly enjoy every step of the journey.

If you would like your child to improve faster or if you wish your child to play at a high standard we suggest,

1. Regular practise in addition to your lesson(s) – It is not uncommon for children learning a musical instrument to practise 4-5 times a week, in addition to their weekly music lesson! Likewise, if your child puts in practise in addition to their weekly lesson(s), improvement will be dramatically enhanced. See our blog for fun practise drills you can do with your child.
2. Consider multiple lessons – Private lessons and fixtures in addition to group lessons are the fastest way to rapidly learn tactics and improve technique.

Should you have any concerns regarding your child’s progress please do not hesitate to give us a call or speak to your child’s coach directly.