Building Confidence in Young Tennis Players

Building Confidence in Young Tennis Players

Recently, I worked with a 13-year-old student who faced a constant struggle with his self-confidence. His father, frustrated, would tell me after every match that his son wasn't performing at his level. He would talk about his weak serve, lack of aggression when attacking balls, and tendency to play it safe. This kind of feedback is quite common in conversations between parents and coaches. I often notice that they focus solely on technical and tactical aspects of the game, forgetting that tennis encompasses much more than that.

The Journey with John

For the sake of privacy, I'll refer to my student as John. I worked with John for two years, dedicating only one hour of private lesson time per week. This was a specific request from his parents, who wanted him to improve his competitive performance. The rest of the time, he trained at another club where I had previously been a coach for a year but decided to leave due to a lack of professionalism from other trainers.

From the start, I realized John was an exceptional kid, perhaps too nice, which sometimes caused him to be overlooked. I observed that every time he made a mistake, his other coaches were quick to point out what he was doing wrong, disregarding the fact that sometimes a mistake in execution doesn't mean the decision was incorrect. Anyone familiar with tennis and high-performance competitive training knows this distinction is crucial.

Fostering Confidence

I decided to focus on helping John not just with technical and tactical skills but also in building his confidence. Over time, we began discussing his feelings during matches and training sessions, as well as his aspirations in tennis. He slowly started to open up and ask questions he hesitated to bring up with other coaches. For instance, he wanted to know how to beat certain players or how to manage nerves before a match.

We also incorporated exercises that simulated match situations. For example, I would stand in the middle of the court with the tennis cart, launching balls randomly. If John missed a shot, he would lose a point (15-0 to mee); if he hit them all, point for him. The first time we did this, he ended up in tears after losing 2-6. But as we repeated the exercise over several sessions, he ultimately won 6-0. This method increased his match awareness and, crucially, his confidence.

The Role of Perception

Despite his passion and skill, John's perception of himself became a barrier. This is a common issue many players face, yet it is rarely addressed by coaches with the attention it deserves.

Sadly, I no longer work with John. After a match where he lost to a friend, his father told me that John wanted to stop the "intensive" training and was considering quitting tennis altogether. I tried to speak with him, but he seemed quite determined to walk away from the sport. I conveyed to his father that I didn't believe he genuinely wanted less intense training; rather, it seemed he was afraid that if he tried hard, he might fail. I encouraged him to see that if he trained this way every day, he would likely experience significant growth - not only as a player but also personally. Building self-confidence is a vital process that can open many doors.

Lessons from a Legend

Reflecting on my own experiences, I remember meeting Stefan Edberg, a former world number one, at the Swedish national tournament when I was just 11 years old. I asked him what it takes to reach the top in tennis. His answer was surprisingly simple and straightforward:

• Surround yourself with good people.
• Play as many sports as you can until you're 16.
• When you reach 16, chase your dreams without looking back and give it everything you've got.

Edberg didn’t talk about technique or tactics or even how to serve or hit a forehand. Instead, he provided three key steps to cultivating self-confidence. Sometimes, what’s truly needed isn’t just skill but the right mindset.

Final Thoughts

Like many players, John has the talent to beat many of the competitors he faces. The real challenge lies not in technique or tactics but in self-confidence. This isn’t something that comes easily; it must be nurtured through experiences, support, and proper guidance. We know that the right mindset is crucial, and if a student lacks it, it's essential for the coach to address these aspects for the student to grow as a player. Otherwise, they may end up giving up, leading to frustrations that can be difficult to resolve.