A French Perspective on Junior Tennis Development ft. Thomas Drouet

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 42 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, Lisa talks with former touring pro and current coach, Thomas Drouet. Thomas started playing tennis at a young age when his grandfather introduced him to the sport at age 3. He was naturally drawn to the game and would spend hours hitting against a wall. At age 12, he entered the National Sports Center in France, where the top junior players trained together. At 18, Thomas transitioned from junior to professional tennis, playing for Monaco and later becoming a coach. His coaching philosophy developed as he worked with young players in Monaco, focusing on technique and tactics. He aimed to push the kids beyond their limits, despite their comfortable lifestyle. Lisa and Thomas discussed the recent announcement by the ITF allowing coaching for junior events and the potential impact on the sport. Thomas expressed his support for the decision, highlighting the importance of coaching in tennis and the need for players to have access to it. He also addressed the issue of unequal access to coaching for players who can afford it and those who cannot. Lisa raised the concern about the financial commitment required for junior coaches to attend tournaments, which Thomas acknowledged as a challenge. Thomas emphasized the importance of parents being involved from the beginning and understanding that tennis is a job for the coach, not the player. He shared his experience with his son, who expressed a desire for a better relationship with his father on the court, leading to them seeking the help of a psychologist. The psychologist recommended incorporating games and fun into their training sessions to balance the coaching and fatherly roles. Lisa agreed, highlighting the importance of communication and maintaining a healthy relationship between parents and their children, regardless of their tennis achievements. Thomas recently developed a card game for tennis players, particularly for coaches and young players. The game is designed to improve technique, fitness, mental, and tactical aspects of the sport. It allows players to practice and strategize, providing insights into their decision-making and personality traits. Thomas explained the effectiveness of his card game in engaging young kids and keeping them focused on specific tasks. He highlighted the game's ability to help kids develop mental skills, such as controlling their temper and dealing with stress during matches. The game can be purchased on Thomas's website at https://www.thecardschallenge.com/. To reach out to Thomas for video conferencing or other information, email him at thomas.drouet1705@gmail.com. Follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/coachdrouet/. And don’t forget to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/. The deadline is coming up at the end of November, so don't miss out! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices