Before They Play a Grand Slam: Parenting the Junior Tennis Player

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book for Junior Tennis Parents
Review: This book was by far the best book I have read and the only book I have found on this topic. The thoroughness and the personal touch that the Author gives is second to none. It was a fun read and one that I can easily remember and relay onto my children. I have two children that play tennis. One that has been at it for a number of years and the other that is just starting. I am thankful to have found this book now, but really wish that I had it when my first child started playing tennis. This book is helpful for parents who already have experienced junior tennis players and for ones that have kids who are just getting started.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book for Families With Junior Tennis Players!
Review: Yes, this is a great book for parents. It is also a great book for young tennis players. I highly recommend it to tennis families like mine.

It is written in an entertaining and direct style. The chapters are short; each addresses a particular aspect of playing junior tennis (and parenting the tennis player). The advantage of this is that once you've read the book, it is easy to return to a particular chapter to re-visit a specific issue. Moreover, the chapters can be read in just about any order you wish -- each is a bit like a self-contained essay on a particular subject.

Our entire family has read the book (we have two tennis-playing sons). Because we've all read the book, we have a shared starting point for some of our discussions.

The chapters cover topics ranging from equipment to nutrition to training to pressure, sportsmanship, traveling to tournaments, choosing and interacting with a coach, and parent-child relationships and how they are affected by competitive play.

We have taken the book to tournaments with us, and turned to a particular chapter after returning to the hotel. It's kind of like taking the coach along. You can draw on that little nugget of wisdom at just the right time!

I highly recommend this book to families raising junior tennis players.