The Emma Raducanu Effect - What to do next if your child gets the tennis bug
‘I want to be Emma!’ If your daughter or son sees themselves as the next tennis superstar, here’s what to do about it...
In all the years I’ve been involved with tennis, never have I seen such an inspiring spotlight shine onthe sport until Emma Raducanu won the US Open in August 2021. And the ripple effect down to grassroots level, from what I can see, is really exciting. Over the past few months there have been so many kids desperate to pick up a racket – suddenly we have a waiting list at my local club for new juniors, pupils of all ages at school are asking for more and more lessons – it’s honestly brilliant! So if that sounds a little familiar in your household too, and your child has started to imagine themselves as the next Emma, what should you do about it?
Here are my top 5 tips to help support the beginning of your child’s tennis story…
1. Just let them play
The start of your son or daughter’s tennis story doesn’t have to begin on a tennis court. Mine didn’t. I remember belting balloons with my hands over a make-shift chair ‘net’ with my dad in the front room – it was all I needed to familiarise myself with the game and it was so much fun too.
Blowing up balloons, I appreciate, isn’t for everyone though, so instead you could head out to your back garden or local park area, hey maybe even the beach on holiday, and create a little pop up court. You can easily buy inexpensive kids tennis sets complete with rackets and sponge balls which are a perfect starting point… throw down a few coats or bags as a net and you’re good to go whacking a few balls around.
Or even if everyone’s a bit busy, you can encourage your child to hit a few balls against the wall of the house if they fancy… What I’m saying is, keep the start of their tennis journey accessible, simple and super fun – this is really important when helping them develop their skills and have fun, whilst of course learning to fall in love with the game.
2. Find a local club
If you’re not already members of a tennis club, search online to find your nearest ‘pay and play’ courts. Taking your child down to have a knock around on a proper tennis court is a great next step to give them a taste for the sport within the comfort of their family. Try googling ‘free tennis courts near me’ for municipal courts. Otherwise, pay and play options are fab because they offer the flexibility to go as and when is convenient for you, without the intimidation or commitment of a full membership.
If such courts aren’t an option in your area though, do a bit of research within a chosen radius of your home and find all the members clubs available. Have a look at their websites; as a member can you book a court whenever you like? Do they offer individual coaching? Do they run a junior group programme that caters for all ages and abilities? How many coaches do they have? Do they have flood lights so you have more available time to play?
The more the club has to offer the more likely you will be able to support the needs of your child’s tennis now and in the future.
3. Sign up to some lessons
Unless as a parent you know all there is to know about the sport, and your child also doesn’t mind you teaching them(!), having some sort of organised lesson is a great idea to further your child’s enjoyment and help maximise their game.
Get in touch with your chosen tennis club and see what sessions they have to offer - this could be on an individual basis or as part of a group.
Some children feel extremely vulnerable and self-conscious in a group, particularly as a beginner to the sport, so one-on-one lessons could be just what they need to really thrive – just be aware they can be fairly pricey per hour.
Other children however, just want to be around their peers and make new friends so group sessions work perfectly. Most members clubs offer term time junior programmes for a range of ages and abilities throughout the week, either after school or over the weekend. To know which one to sign up for, as a general rule, children aged 4-8 years play red ball, 8-9 years play orange ball and 9-11 years play green ball. For those children who are older usually play yellow ball. For a little more on getting the most out of your group sessions by choosing the right one click here.
Many clubs deliver drop-in sessions too, which offers a more flexible, no-commitment start to introducing your child to group tennis.
There is certainly no right or wrong way to do it, and if you and your child are unsure as to what kind of lesson to choose first, perhaps allow them to try out both an individual and a group, and see how they get on.
4. Find the right coach
Choosing the right coach is arguably the most important step when supporting your child’s tennis journey. It’s imperative that not only are they qualified to do the job, but that they also bond well with your child and understand their needs as a player. You could find the most technically sound coach out there, but if your child is not having fun and gelling with who’s teaching them, they won’t learn too much, nor enjoy it and unfortunately will not want to continue.
Finding a club with more than one coach is ideal because then you’ve got a few options. If you have the time as well, I’d recommend watching a few lessons that your club coaches do before choosing one, or ask other parents or members around the club to get their feedback.
There is plenty more to know about finding the right coach so click here for more guidance.
5. Buy a bit of kit – but don’t spend a fortune!
When your child is just starting out in the game there is absolutely no need at all to head out and buy them all the latest tennis gear – even if they’re desperate to wear Emma’s winning red outfit. Any old sports clothes will do, trainers are a must and make sure long hair is tied back.
While purchasing a new racket may seem an obvious thing to do, just check with your club if they have any spare that your child can use for the first few sessions. Many clubs have a huge stack of old rackets to lend out – mine certainly does! Only when your child has played a few times and is sure they want to continue would I suggest then buying them a racket.
If the club doesn’t have any spare, then I’d just have a look on ebay for a second hand one to begin with, or see if any other parents down at the club have children who have grown out of their old ones – until you know that your child really wants to play, you really don’t need to be spending a lot on a brand new racket.
6. Make sure it stays fun
Find what your child enjoys about tennis and – the most important thing – always have fun with it!
Lizzie Flint is a writer and a practicing level 3 LTA professional tennis coach.
She has been in love with the game since picking up a racquet at the age of four – and she has seen it from every possible angle: playing, analysing and reporting on tennis all over the world. Read more about Lizzie here.