Venus and Serena's Top 5 Tips for Kids

Keeping the Fun in Tennis

by staff author

Venus and Serena Williams say they are lucky never to have gotten sick of tennis. "We've personally never experienced burnout," Venus says.

But she and her sister acknowledge that many athletes do experience burnout – too much court time, too much pressure, too few breaks from playing.

Venus and Serena offer their top five tips, garnered from their own experiences, for child athletes about how to avoid burnout and remain in love with the game:

Venus and Serena's Top 5 Tips for Kids-Keeping the Fun in Tennis

  • Pick up a racket for the first time between ages 5 and 7, and begin training harder and taking the sport more seriously around age 10.
  • Despite losses, enjoying tennis is more important than winning.
  • Private lessons are important, but so are group lessons, where you can learn from other players.
  • Focus on school first, tennis second.
  • If you find yourself burning out, take a break from the game and focus on the fun.

    If a parent observes her child edging toward burnout, Venus suggests having "an honest conversation" with the child, one free of accusations and one that recommends a new approach to the sport all together. She adds that it would be a good idea to involve a coach at this point.

    "We make a living from tennis, but it's only just one part of our lives," the sisters say. "We've spent countless hours on the court, but we've also logged in school time, family time, spiritual time, friend time and, of course, fun time!"

    Read more about Venus and Serena Williams.