In order for your child to fall in love with tennis and develop their game to their potential, the selection of your child's first tennis professional (coach) is the most important decision you must make. There are many people in the marketplace with which to choose from, how to make the decision?
1) Get feedback from other parents whose children are close to the age and ability of your child.
Asking the parents of a child going off on a tennis scholarship is probably not the best person to ask for recommendations if your child is a 6 yrs old beginner. The reverse is also not the best idea. Ask around to see if there is a consensus. If there appears to be one, begin your search there.
2) If you have sought a recommendation, quickly dismiss any bias you may have acquired through those discussions.
Just because Pro A was great with their child, does not mean they will be great with yours. You must watch the interactions between the professional and your child. Determine if the pro is engaging to your child, and if your child responds well to instruction, praise, criticism, and discipline from the pro.
3) Let your child choose the pro
The most important factor in a child's ability to develop their tennis skills is whether or not they sincerely like their coach. If your child can't stop telling you how great their coach is, or spend the entire car ride telling you verbatim everything the coach said or did, chances are you have found the right person. Conversely, if they show zero interest after lessons, in the pro or the class, it's best you save your money and time, and continue your search. Just like any relationship, chemistry is vital to success.
4) Once the child and you choose the pro, he/she should be the "lead" pro
Continuity of learning is important. The best solution is stay with your lead pro throughout their development. However, if you and the child go to different facilities for your child's tennis, be sure that only your lead pro is determining the course of development. This way your child can use the extra time at the secondary facility working on the things your lead pro is teaching them. Most facilities and ethical pros will respect your desire to have only one lead pro. You or your child should tell the secondary facility/pros what specifically the lead pro is working on.
5) After your selection
Once you have selected a pro, then you must manage your expectations for development. This should be coordinated with your pro. Set goals, even if the child's goals are simply extra-curricular. If the goals are lofty - like a college scholarship, make sure these goals are discussed from the get go.
Finally, judge the results accordingly based on the goals. If it turns out you must switch pros at any time in your child's development for any reason, simply go back and follow steps 1-3 listed here again. Even though the age and skill level may change, the child must sincerely like their pro.
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