A lot of kids and parents want the Division 1 college 
scholarship or experience. Of every boy who plays high 
school tennis, about 1.5 percent make it on to a Division 1 
college team. For girls, the percentage is a little higher, but 
not more than 3 percent. For Division II, Division III and NAIA, 
5 percent of high school tennis athletes will find a place. 
One out of every 200,000 players makes it to the 
professional level, and unless you’re ranked among the top 
150 to 200 players in the world, every dollar you make will go 
back into surviving. You can’t save because you’re responsible 
for all your expenses. Most of my friends who played on the 
pro tour left because they were effectively broke and couldn’t 
afford to keep traveling. Tennis is a great, but brutal sport.
So, what’s the right move for a serious young player?
So, what’s the right move for a serious young player?
Let’s work as hard as we can and control the controllables. I've 
taught and coached junior tennis players for over 24 years. 
I've worked with players from the first time they've picked up 
a racquet to those who have won high school championships, 
played college tennis and even earned rankings on the ATP 
and WTA Tours. A lot of this work has happened in places not 
known for tennis ... Alaska, Montana and Idaho. If a player 
decides they want to make tennis their passion and their focus, 
Prairie Dunes’ facilities and infrastructure will help players 
fulfill their dreams on the courts. 
 
I’ve seen tennis develop in kids a level of resilience and 
toughness. Team sports are great, but you have people to rely 
on. In tennis, you’re out there on your own. It’s very cool to 
see kids learn to manage themselves and their emotions, and 
overcome doubt.
The thing that makes tennis great for kids is that it’s one 
sport you can play for your entire life. It’s a great social sport. 
And with racquets, one hour of play per week adds 10 years 
to lifespan. You get cardio, light resistance training with the 
impact of the ball, anaerobic and aerobic exercise, and there’s 
the cognitive component. You have to track, receive and send 
the ball. Bilateral and unilateral movement must happen. In 
terms of lifestyle, you can’t get more bang for your buck than 
with tennis. Tons of studies have been done on this. 
Is there an admonition for parents in all this?
Is there an admonition for parents in all this?
I’ve had so many conversations with parents who want a 
guarantee. The truth is, we don’t know if a player will develop. 
I can make a guess, and I tend to be right. But it’s not a 
guarantee, even if they have amazing talent. On the other 
hand, I’ve seen kids turn out much stronger than I thought 
they would. 
The coach/player relationship is important; kids have to be 
comfortable, especially if they are in the 11 and under stage. 
Their bodies are growing. Their minds are growing. They’re 
Every child is different. If they’re the one saying, I want 
to do more, and if it works for the coach and family, then 
as a player/parent/coach team, we’ll do what we can to 
accommodate. As they start competing, we count all the 
coach-led time, free time and number of matches they’re 
playing. If they’re under 10 and they really want to play 
tournaments, we shoot for 20 matches a year. At ages 11 to 
14, we aim for 50 to 60 matches a year. For a student who 
is 14 to 17 and trying to play at a high level, that number is 
60 to 90 matches a year, and that could be singles, doubles, 
school matches ... anything with a recorded score. Then we 
just see where they go with it. I had a youth player who ended 
up getting points on the ATP Men’s Tour.
Should they show interest first or should a parent approach it 
Should they show interest first or should a parent approach it 
as an opportunity for early exposure to the sport?
as an opportunity for early exposure to the sport?
It depends on the child. If they're showing interest first, that's 
great! It's also fine if the parent simply wants to expose a child 
to tennis. You won’t know if there’s genuine interest unless 
you try.
How long do you give it if the child doesn’t show much 
How long do you give it if the child doesn’t show much 
interest or aptitude for it?
interest or aptitude for it?
The greatest thing about tennis is that it is truly a sport for a 
lifetime. The most important thing is that the child is having 
fun. There are so many directions a child can take tennis. 
Maybe they want to be competitive and play high school and 
USTA Junior Tennis or college tennis, or maybe they just 
want to be active, social and able to hit a ball with their family. 
There is no right direction or right answer, as long as they're 
having fun!
What happens if a child lags too much to age up to the next 
What happens if a child lags too much to age up to the next 
color ball?
color ball?
This is a great question. The color balls are tools to help 
players develop as athletes and players. If a player is 
struggling with the skills but they are getting older, we have 
a few options. We can move them to the next development 
stage and work closely with them, move to the next stage and 
add a 30-minute private lesson for some extra attention, do a 
combination of the current stage and the next stage, or take a 
break from groups for weekly one-hour private lessons.
I encourage juniors and parents to think of the groups the 
same as they would school. If you only show up to class once 
a week and don't ever practice on your own, development is 
going to be slower and, for some, more challenging. Booking 
a court and hitting with mom or dad is great, hitting with a 
friend from the classes is fantastic. Coming out to practice 
your serve on your own is so great. 
Is it possible to see that a junior has aptitude for it?
Is it possible to see that a junior has aptitude for it?
Yes. It's hard to put into words, but I've worked with many 
junior players over the years who have that unique quality 
and potential to be special. 
What contributes to a successful experience for a child and 
What contributes to a successful experience for a child and 
what’s a realistic track?
what’s a realistic track?
Tennis is very challenging, so first and foremost, they need to 
love the game. They need to love the challenge of the game 
and the process of improving. Being athletic helps. Being 
coachable is crucial. 
 
“It’s very cool to see kids learn 
to manage themselves and their 
emotions, and overcome doubt.” 
—Colin Gillam
26

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.