The Do’s and Don’ts of Being a Tennis Parent
The do s and don ts – Ellie-Rose Griffiths, a former British junior tennis prodigy, left school at nine to dedicate herself fully to the sport. For her, tennis transitioned from a casual pastime into a demanding career, one that eventually led to competing alongside notable British players like Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu, and Harriet Dart. However, her journey also highlighted the emotional toll of the sport, as she retired at 19, citing burnout and a loss of enjoyment. Reflecting on her time in the game, Griffiths recalls that the pressure surrounding tennis, particularly from parents, often overshadows the joy of the game itself.
The Pressure of Parental Influence
Parents play a central role in the intensity of junior tennis. The sport’s elite levels offer substantial financial rewards, making it a highly competitive arena where families invest heavily in their children’s potential. Griffiths points to incidents involving the parents of Jelena Dokic, Mary Pierce, and Bernard Tomic as emblematic of the challenges faced. These cases illustrate how parental expectations can escalate, often leading to aggressive tactics on the court.
“You see parents shouting at children all the time in tennis,” Griffiths notes. “There’s a lack of understanding about how they should behave… and how they could help their child blossom into the athlete they should become.”
Chris Johnson, a head coach at Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club with three decades of experience, echoes this sentiment. He describes how some parents’ behavior can become so intense that it necessitates intervention. “We’ve had situations here before where we’ve had to call the police because the parents’ conduct is getting out of control,” he says. “They won’t listen, they think they can get away with anything, and they don’t respect the referees. It can get a bit ugly.”
Creating the Competitive Environment
Johnson and Griffiths agree that the pressure isn’t isolated—it stems from the structure of the sport itself. The tennis ecosystem demands constant participation, with parents managing logistics like transportation, coaching costs, and tournament fees. For instance, children as young as four can begin playing on modified courts, and the LTA’s performance pathway supports the most promising juniors from age seven, guiding them toward Grand Slam aspirations.
Competitions are organized by age groups, starting with the under-eight category. Ratings and rankings, derived from these events, serve as a metric for visibility. As the stakes rise, so does the expectation for early success. Johnson highlights that the system often shifts focus to immediate wins, stating, “The minute they start playing their first competition, the pressure is on.”
“Many adults struggle with the pressures of individual sports, and then they expect young children to handle it too,” Johnson adds. “It’s a race to the bottom, with parents chasing rankings and ratings instead of fostering a love for the game.”
Steve Whelan, a coach in St Albans with nearly 30 years of experience, supports this view. He emphasizes that the focus on winning at an early age can transform kids into mere contenders rather than passionate players. “These are not tennis players. They are kids who play tennis,” he says. “There’s a significant difference between the two.”
Reforms and New Initiatives
In response to these challenges, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) launched a comprehensive review of its rating and ranking system in 2018. The goal was to reduce the strain on young players by delaying national rankings until the under-11 category. Before this change, children as young as eight were competing against peers, with rankings based on their performance. The LTA now organizes younger players by recent form, using a rating system rather than national standings.
Griffiths, who was once the British junior number one, advocates for this shift. She argues that the financial burden on parents is immense. “It just gets more and more: lessons, travel, flights, tournament fees,” one parent explains. Griffiths quantifies the cost, stating that four hours of daily coaching could cost over £1,000 weekly—more than some families’ monthly incomes. This financial pressure often leads to a cycle of relentless training and competition, with parents sacrificing personal time to support their child’s career.
Encouraging Balance and Fair Play
The LTA acknowledges that while most parents aim to support their children, a minority fail to uphold the standards of respectful behavior. To address this, the organization is introducing a new initiative called Fair Play, designed to promote positive parental conduct and strengthen the relationship between coaches and players. Johnson believes this initiative is crucial, as it aims to create a more supportive environment for young athletes.
Griffiths also suggests that parents should prioritize their child’s well-being over competition. “Tennis shouldn’t just be about winning,” she says. “It should be about growth, fun, and a love for the game.” Her own parents, who were supportive rather than overbearing, allowed her to balance training with personal development. This approach contrasts with the pushy tactics seen in other parts of the sport, where parents might demand perfection at the expense of a child’s happiness.
Experts argue that the system’s design contributes to the pressure. The LTA’s performance pathway requires families to navigate a complex journey, from modified courts to elite competitions. While this structure provides opportunities for top players, it also creates an environment where parents feel compelled to push their children harder. Johnson notes that this pressure often leads to burnout, with some players exiting the sport before they’ve had a chance to enjoy it.
Griffiths’ experience underscores the need for change. She recalls how the relentless pursuit of success overshadowed the joy of playing. “Tennis became my life, but I didn’t enjoy it anymore,” she says. The LTA’s efforts to reform the system and promote Fair Play are steps toward alleviating this burden. However, the challenge remains in ensuring that parents understand the importance of balance and support in their child’s development.
As the sport continues to evolve, the focus must shift from aggressive competition to nurturing talent. Parents, coaches, and governing bodies all have a role to play in creating an environment where young athletes can thrive without losing their passion for the game. Griffiths hopes that the new initiatives will encourage a culture where tennis is seen as a journey, not just a race to the top.
