Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids

Book Review

Date: 8th September 2008 - 6th October 2008

RAISING BIG SMILING TENNIS KIDS
by KEITH KATTAN
reviewed by Peter Farrell – Development Officer.
 
Paperback: 240 pages.
ISBN 1-932421-11-4
Publisher: Mansion Grove House 2006 (Second Edition)
 
“A book every parent and coach will want for the junior in their lives.” – Pam Shriver.
 
When your child starts to get serious about tennis, there are many questions to be asked, and precious few sources of unbiased and expert information. A book I came across recently - `Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids` could prove very valuable in this context.
 
It is a comprehensive and common sense approach to the difficult job of parenting the young player who is committed to taking his or her talent as far as it will go. Although aimed at the American market (and containing the odd `Americanism` which might grate with some on this side of the Atlantic), most of the advice can easily be made relevant to young tennis players in Ireland or, for that matter, anywhere the game is played.
 
Here are some of the issues dealt with in the book – issues every tennis parent needs a perspective on:
 
  • How to find the right coach for your child.
  • When is a junior player ready to compete?
  • Preparing for a tournament match.
  • An introduction to periodization.
  • The best equipment for a young player.
  • `Playing up` an age group.
 
I know from my own experiences coaching juniors that these are the very topics parents most often ask about, and crucially they are addressed in `Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids` in a way which emphasises what is best for the childs long term development.
 
Here is the type of advice that I wish every parent would pay attention to:
 
“If you remember only one keyword for raising a successful tennis kid, remember this one – FUN”.
 
“As long as there is less emphasis on winning and losing, children begin to thrive on competition”.
 
This is good advice, from a book I recommend to all parents who want to guide their childs tennis in the most constructive way possible.
 
TO ORDER Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids (priced at £11.04 sterling), go to www.amazon.co.uk , or click on this link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b/026-4518035-2218803?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=raising+big+smiling+tennis+kids&x=16&y=15


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