Fostering Independent Thinking Among Players

Key Points

• Players, coaches and parents all see things in their own way

• Give young players the chance to make mistakes and think for themselves

• Keep an open mind to mistakes as a coach and parent

• Allow players to “feel the loss”, experience mistakes and learn to deal with it without always critiquing or intervening

• Tennis is not the highlight reels of shots you see on YouTube where players are ripping winners an inch from the line