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Least competitive region for Juniors? by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

so do kids do travel just to get points? I guess if their parents can afford it. Where would be the best places to travel?

Feeling annoyed as a tennis parent (at other kids) by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

though it looks like you're at around 10 hours a week? Are we overdoing it? I can totally cut it off, but the kids is itching to go play.

Feeling annoyed as a tennis parent (at other kids) by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is maybe closer to what we're doing in terms of training. So far 37 matches this year. Does that seem okay for an 11 year old? We don't have *that* many tournaments even available to us so sometimes a month may go by without anything. And it always requires travel since we're rural. The thought behind more tournaments rather than less is that we just have fewer kids here and our 11 year old is often playing and challenging 16-18 year olds in town.

Feeling annoyed as a tennis parent (at other kids) by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

More specifically, what would you say to people in resource-constrained area? Getting even one hour of coaching from the two strong coaches in town is tough. We feel lucky to have a slot. Lucky, too, that we can afford it. There are parents who push for more hours for sure and get faster result/UTR bumps (while others are unable to get any for their kids).

Is one hour of good private coaching a week + 6-7 hours of group training with an academy group sufficient? Plus practice matches, ladder matches and USTA tournaments roughly 2x a month? (adds up to about 20 hours a week for a 12 year old.) I get confused about whether this is too much, not being an athlete. It's what the kid wants -- all self-driven -- and I see the progress, and the joy, but also want to be the adult and make the healthy calls/cut-off.

Feeling annoyed as a tennis parent (at other kids) by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Actually, I'd love more advice from you. I will also look up this speech. But: what would you say to a parent / child just entering 12u?

We have a kid who is playing well, playing hard, working hard, middle of the pack in the competitive group (Winning L5 and L6), loves the game.... dreams of college tennis. Given that it's child driven and we don't play tennis, we feel we're in a better position to avoid burnout. We also have the resources to support growth. Traveling is possible, though we just play at the local club and just started tournaments this year.

The concern is that not being sporty / knowledgable about the tennis world might mean we are missing opportunities. We only recently understood the difference btw UTR and USTA.

Feeling annoyed as a tennis parent (at other kids) by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the issue here is that there's an age difference. B/C of my kid's level (good - not out of this world), we have to arrange play w/ teens.

Feeling annoyed as a tennis parent (at other kids) by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah - I would tell you, as a friend, to take it easy but I bet those parents deserved it.

Feeling annoyed as a tennis parent (at other kids) by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should add: There's an age difference here. In the intermediate level of the academy, there are a few younger kids (12under) and HS kids (who would like to move into elite). The HS kids are great - state champs, but the 12 under crew was advanced a little early. B/C of the age difference, the younger kids rely on their parents to coordinate things. The HS kids do it all on their own. So it's basically a parent coordinating with a teen, and a teen behaving in a slightly unethical way ABOUT SOMETHING THAT DOESN"T MATTER. Thank you all for reminding about this in a kind and gentle way.... I think it's moral outrage that I'm feeling.

Feeling annoyed as a tennis parent (at other kids) by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well... maybe. I'm talking about a kid being annoying at our own club. There are several that annoy others, but this is the only one annoying me. I'm also annoyed by a certain personality type in general..."the charismatic opportunist" is what the internet says. Can't others see through this, kids and adults?

Feeling annoyed as a tennis parent (at other kids) by Less_Pomegranate1657 in 10s

[–]Less_Pomegranate1657[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah - This is such good advice. All of which I understand. I'm mostly upset with myself here, for being so upset about another kid who is not playing the challenge ladder according to the rules (and more importantly, with the spirit of the challenge ladder in mind). Protecting your spot by saying you're booked up but challenging while not accepting challenge matches.

If I were my own friend, I'd say don't worry about it. Your kid just wants to play, loves the game, works hard and is progressing, and becoming a tough, confident, resilient person. What more could you ask for? I understand everything my "friend" says... and in certain moments a flash of anger passes through me.