1. New initiatives in Danish Tennis: Tennis 10s Mark Tennant inspire2coach ltd

2. Agassi story time video www.inspire2coach.co.uk

3. Tennis 10s Tennis10s is focussed on increasing levels of participation in tennis and providing a more appropriate development pathway for young players, including appropriate competition. Tennis 10s is the way tennis training and competition can be best presented for all players aged 10 years and under. www.inspire2coach.co.uk

4. Key principles 1. Create the best playing environment for 10 and under players appropriate sized court slower balls, including the new rule change shorter rackets 2. Present appropriate competition for 10 and under players shorter, multi-match formats and events team and individual matches simple scoring systems www.inspire2coach.co.uk

5. The rules have changed! www.inspire2coach.co.uk In January 2012 the rules of tennis changed. It is now mandatory for all competition for players aged 10-and-under to be played with slower red, orange and green balls on the appropriate sized courts. The traditional yellow ball is no longer permitted in matchplay for this age.

7. It’s easy to be a great parent………… www.inspire2coach.co.uk 2011 Tennis 10s and parents ………..until you have kids!

8. Teaching Mum and Dad Every federation wants to develop players Every federation wants well educated coaches to train those players But who is teaching Mum and Dad? We ought to do more to help educate parents Windows of opportunity exist for ‘training’ parents too www.inspire2coach.co.uk 2011

9. Teaching Mum and Dad Influence of parents and home life Working with Mum and Dad is much easier than working without them, or worse still working against them! Developing a team approach www.inspire2coach.co.uk 2011

10. A typical relationship?

11. A better relationship? Parents and child Child and coach Coach and parents

12. Coach v parent perspective CoachParent “I have to treat all the kids the same” “I only care about my child” “he is not good enough”“he is good enough” “he lost”“the opponent cheated” “he tried hard”“he lost!” “your child needs to play with an orange ball” “you are treating my child like a baby!” “I understand long-term player development” “you are not teaching him correctly” “I want to pick other players for the team” “you dropped my son/daughter!” www.inspire2coach.co.uk 2011

13. Helping parents There is no way to avoid the emotional pressure which parents feel when their kids compete Many of the problems experienced in the coach:parent relationship are due to lack of understanding www.inspire2coach.co.uk 2011

14. Developing understanding If parents don’t know or don’t understand, whose fault is that? www.inspire2coach.co.uk 2011 “If he had played on a bigger court, he would have won!” “Why is my child playing silly games instead of learning tennis?”

15. Talk to parents Communicate regularly with parents in groups and on a 1-1 basis –De-briefs at end of each term –Progress record cards –Discuss and agree goals with the parents Parents evenings www.inspire2coach.co.uk 2011

16. Agree roles and responsibilities “ This is what we expect from the coach” “This is what we expect from the player” “This is what we expect from the parents” www.inspire2coach.co.uk 2011

17. Involve parents Explain training methods Show and explain resources Encourage them to play too Explain how hard being a good tennis player is Invite parents to be involved in officiating and other parts of the programme www.inspire2coach.co.uk 2011

18. Thank you for listening! www.inspire2coach.co.uk