Walk the courts to make sure everything is in condition to play including score tenders are ready, nets in good shape and all equipment is off the courts of play.

Have the players warm up 30 minutes before the match (should courts and facilities allow).

At some point during the 30 minute warm up, the two opposing coaches should get together and exchange line-ups with names of players and what position each player is playing.

At the start time of the match, get all players on the court that is closest to the parents’ area of viewing/sitting and make sure all players and parents are listening to the introductions.

Players should be lined up as a team. One team on the singles line and one team on the T-line.

Tennis balls are then placed in the service box in between the players for them to grab when courts are assigned.

The home team/court coach is to speak to all the players and parents together.

– “Players and parents, welcome to our club. Today we are excited to have you. Please note the restrooms are located….. And any other needed specific club details”

– “Parents, we are glad you came out to watch. Please enjoy the match and clap on amazing points from our players. Please do not clap for errors made by players. Your goal as parents is to help cheer and support your players on the courts. Should at any time you feel you need to speak to a player personally, please refrain from it as only coaches are allowed to work and speak with the players. Please sit back and relax and enjoy your players match while keeping in mind we are teaching all our players to be independent on the courts.

– Note: If you are playing the 10s orange, designate and introduce the person(s) helping with position, score and more. This person is not coaching a team how to win but rather how to play.

Now address the players with: “ Players, today we will play SAID FORMAT to make sure you include the scoring, how to call line calls with a verbal note, and to call the score before each point so there is no confusion of the score. Spin the racket to see who serves first and there will be a 5 min warm up”

Now ask the players questions such as:

– What are we playing to?
– Are we playing ad?
– What do we do at 5-5
– Who decides the side at deuce?
– When do you switch sides?

Now is the time to call out the line ups and have opponents come forward.

When the coaches call the players out of who is playing against each other and designated court, the players will step forward and shake hands, grab the tennis balls and then shake the opposing coaches hands and off they go to the court. All parents and other players are to clap.

Once play is under way, designated volunteer parents (10’s Novice Coaches only) and/or coaches are there to help. NOT hinder.

Coaches should be walking around to each court to make sure all players are doing well.

Please make sure any players who are not playing right away are warming up and that you are checking in with them.

No player should just be sitting there, Get them involved with score helping and more.

Let’s review the expectations for our team tennis players and their families.

When a coach introduces players before a match, parents should be present and attentive to everything the coach has to say.

During these introductions, make sure parents understand that they are expected to remain quiet and may not communicate with players from the opposing team in any way. The only acceptable interactions between parents and opposing players should be limited to positive cheering or compliments.

Similarly, parents should not engage with parents from the opposing team unless it is friendly, sportsmanlike, and in the spirit of the game.

We’ve all seen that nothing good comes from parents speaking negatively to another team’s players or parents. Please emphasize this message to your teams as our goal is to foster respect, learning, and growth for everyone involved.