4. Early positive experiences drive a lifelong love for tennis
Developing a love of sport is crucial at an early age.
Girls’ self-belief and enjoyment of sport is impacted well before their teenage years with many believing by adolescence that they don’t belong in sport.
Our research supports this: girls who start tennis in primary school are far more likely to love the sport, and those who start before age seven are twice as likely to be playing as adults
Women in Sport’s research with primary school girls shows that there are two key areas we must address, the right environment and the right skills to give all girls a strong, positive, start point with sport. Parents have a significant influence on both.
5. Creating the right environment for girls
Girls benefit just as much as boys from rough and tumble play in early childhood, but they are often given fewer opportunities due to adult caution and gender stereotypes.
This can limit girls’ physical confidence, resilience, and enjoyment of movement from a young age.
When girls are not held back, they are just as capable of being strong, adventurous, and confident in sport. Encouraging girls to take risks, play freely, and try a wide range of sports helps build skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging.
6. Focusing on the process, not the outcome
The idea of “getting it right” in tennis, compounded by having less developed fundamental movement skills, means girls can feel immense pressure to do well even at a young age.
To help girls feel encouraged and supported from an early age, focus on and providing feedback or praise on the process (the how), will help them improve and develop skills.
Modifying activities with girls to ensure the process becomes the outcome can help build confidence and competence early on in a player’s development. You can do this by:
Engaging in activities that set girls up for success and provide the best opportunities to progress
Focusing on progression and personal achievement, being ‘their best’ not ‘the best’
Surrounding girls with the expectation that they will succeed
Share with your venue
Want to help more parents understand the ways they can support girls in tennis? We’ve created a free downloadable poster for tennis venues with expert tips and guidance.