For a newer player
The lesson may emphasize coordination, contact, simple movement, and the confidence to send and receive the ball successfully.
Parent guide · Private lessons
What should happen in a 60-minute junior private lesson?
A strong private lesson follows a clear rhythm: connect, review, develop one skill, apply it while moving, add a purposeful challenge, and finish with a useful next step.
The short answer
Individual attention should create focus—not sixty minutes of standing and listening
The player should spend most of the session moving, hitting, solving a manageable challenge, and applying one priority in a realistic tennis situation.
- 1
0–5 minutes
Connect and warm up
A quick check-in and athletic warm-up help the coach see the player's energy, coordination, and readiness for the day.
- 2
5–15 minutes
Review and reinforce
The player revisits the previous focus so the new session builds continuity instead of starting from zero.
- 3
15–30 minutes
Develop one clear skill
One technical priority receives focused instruction and purposeful repetition without overloading the player with corrections.
- 4
30–45 minutes
Use the skill while moving
The player applies the skill through footwork, recovery, targets, rally patterns, or another live-ball situation.
- 5
45–55 minutes
Learn through a challenge
A game or challenge adds decision-making and enjoyable pressure while keeping the activity connected to the lesson goal.
- 6
55–60 minutes
Recap the next step
The session ends with a specific win, what needs more practice, and a simple direction for the next lesson.
Personalized coaching
The structure stays clear, but the lesson should still belong to the player
The exact drills and challenges change based on the player's age, ball level, confidence, prior focus, current goals, and what the coach observes that day.
For a developing player
The focus may shift toward rally tolerance, directional control, recovery, serve consistency, and applying skills in point-like situations.
For a younger player
The session can feel like structured play, with short explanations and games that still serve a specific development purpose.
Parent takeaway
You should leave knowing more than whether the lesson went well
Useful feedback names the day's focus, one specific improvement, and what the next lesson will keep building. That makes consistency easier for the player, parent, and coach.
Helpful information before the first session
- • Age band and general experience
- • What the player enjoys about tennis
- • A skill or confidence goal
- • Prior lesson or program experience
- • Broad scheduling availability
- • Neighborhood, ZIP code, and court access
A simple first step
Find the right next step for your junior player
Tell Patrick what your player wants to improve and when your family is generally available. He will help you determine whether a private lesson is the right starting point.