This is the letter a young tennis player wrote to her parents. Certainly it concerns the world of tennis, but since the padel is very close to tennis, it seemed important to us to point out the importance of a good relationship with parents. This is what some children may feel when faced with the pressure put by parents.

Dad and mom,

I would like to point out to you 10 things that I would like you to take into account:

1- Do you realize that tennis is one of the most unjust sports in existence? We are going to a tournament and only one person wins among the 32 participants. My chances of winning are 1 between 32. Please do the math.

2- In tennis, the more the level will increase, the more the matches will be played on some points. Do you understand the tension I can have? Yes, I am nervous.

3- The pressure I have to win does not come from you. It comes from my desire to become champion, my inner bottom. And none of your cries or those of anyone else can bring me those desires. And if these desires I did not have them?

4- What I want is to take pleasure, but you, you put pressure on me to win and eliminate the fun part. What is happening ? It's the weekend.

5- I am a child, not a little person. I would make hundreds of stupid mistakes. Why do I have to listen that I made mistakes, while you tell me that it's with the mistakes that we make progress? The result clearly tells me that I made them. I am aware of it.

6- Have you ever been under such pressure? How would you react? Because your questions and your body language tell me no.

7- After winning or losing, could we stop talking about it? I just wanted to play.

8- Please, understand the result in tennis. This is the only sport where you can be master of the game and lose the game. Do you understand?

9- I would make double mistakes just because we did not work enough.

10- I love you, but please, this is just a game. Not a reflection of your investment, your dreams, your lack of knowledge of the sport or anything like that. It's a way to have a good time. Could you see that as it please? Thank you

From now on and in the future, here are the rules: If I win, I choose where we eat. If I lose, you will choose. It's just what I want, and spend the weekend with you.

Thank you

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.

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