• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Header Logo
  • About Us
  • Podcast
  • Blog
    • All Articles
    • A Healthy Athlete
    • Coaching and Team Culture
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports Parenting
    • High Performance
    • Mindset and Mental Health
    • Girls Sports
    • Ask Dr. Sam
  • Inspiration & Humor
  • Videos
  • Join the Community
Facebook Instagram Twitter youtube pinterest

As seen in

What Venus Williams’ Coach Wants All Parents To Know

  • 0share
  • 0
  • 0

What Venus Williams’ Coach Wants All Parents To Know

What Venus Williams’ Coach Wants All Parents To Know. Eric Hechtman knows a thing or two about youth sports parents. As an elite-level youth tennis player, he was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country and eventually signed with The University of Miami, where he captained the Hurricanes for 3 years and still holds the record for most all-time wins. These days Hechtman pours his passion for tennis into helping others as the director of the Royal Palm Tennis Club. He currently coaches Venus Williams but has also worked with Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams. Hechtman spends most of his time working with rising tennis stars and has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly side of youth sports parents.

Here are Eric Hechtman’s 3 takeaways for all parents:

    1. Kids are motivated by the culture of their house. If kids are being taught how to work at basic things like chores or studying, they know how to work hard on the tennis courts.  Kids who haven’t been taught how to work hard through simple life skills like chores, do not want to train hard when they come to my practices because it’s work.  Elite players enjoy the process (the work) because they’ve been taught the value.    
    2. My best tennis parents are great overall parents. They make time for their kids; they’re reasonable. They instill the value of effort, a strong work ethic, and the importance of respecting others.  The best tennis parents are also ones who take the time to become knowledgeable about the game and process. Finally, the best parents show love and positivity. 
    3.  Plant the seed to see it grow. Richard Williams is perceived as being this cut-throat, win-at-all-costs dad. That is the furthest thing from the truth. When he comes to Venus’ matches, he is nothing but positive and encouraging.  What Richard did was instill a dream. He saw talent within the girls and told them they could be the greatest players of all time.  He put dreams in their head, provided the resources, and allowed them to chase their dreams.      

Jon Coles, PhD
Assistant Professor, Sport Management
Grand Valley State University

 

Read More Articles Like This One:

In Defense Of The Dream

How Much Or How Little Should I Be Pushing My Kid?

Primary Sidebar

  • What Mr. Rogers Can Teach Us About Youth Sports
  • Just Telling An Athlete To Work Hard Is Meaningless Without Context
  • There’s Something Different About High School Sports
  • It’s Time To Just Listen
  • Pickleball Is Better Than Tennis…For 10 And Under
  • Why Our Family Is Okay With The Craziness Of Youth Sports

Categories

  • A Healthy Athlete
  • Sports Parenting
  • Coaching and Team Culture
  • High Performance
  • Lifestyle
  • Mindset

Footer

WHAT'S TRENDING IN YOUTH SPORTS?
Asia Mape Video
follow us
facebook instagram twitter youtube pinterest

We Believe In The Power Of Sports

Injuries in young athletes have soared. Costs to compete have skyrocketed. Kids are quitting in record numbers. But we believe strongly in youth sports, and the many ways it improves our childrens’ lives.

We are here to help parents regain balance and sanity, and to help restore the joy, accomplishment, and core values derived from sports.

Begin your journey today.

 

More About Us

Join the Community

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for the latest news, articles, inspiration, stats, funny videos, tips and everything you need if you are a parent or coach in youth sports, delivered right to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About the founder

According to a survey conducted over 30 years by two coaches and athletic administrators about what young athletes want to hear most from their parents after a sporting event, it turns out it is: “I love to watch you play.”

Become a Contributor

Advertising/Media

Contact

Privacy Policy/Amazon Affiliate Notification

Copyright 2023 © I Love To Watch You Play. All rights reserved. | Accessibility Feedback | Developed by Tiny Frog Technologies

Join Our Community

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for the latest news, articles, inspiration, stats, funny videos, tips and everything you need if you are a parent or coach in youth sports, delivered right to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for our newsletter
  • Sign up for our weekly newsletter for the latest news, articles, inspiration, stats, funny videos, tips and everything you need if you are a parent or coach in youth sports delivered right to your inbox!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.