Fear is a powerful force. On the tennis court, it can show up as doubt, hesitation, or the instinct to play it safe. But real, lasting growth comes not from avoiding risks but from embracing them. For junior tennis players, practice sessions are where this journey begins. It’s where exploration, experimentation, and risk-taking should not only be encouraged but celebrated.
The key to improving your game is learning to push yourself beyond the limits of what feels comfortable. And that means taking risks in practice—trying new shots, experimenting with strategies, and, yes, making mistakes along the way.
Shift Your Mindset: Mistakes Are Learning Opportunities
Mistakes are not something to avoid—they are an essential part of the learning process. In fact, mistakes are how you discover what works and what doesn’t. If junior players view every miss as a failure, they will develop a fear-based approach, playing cautiously to avoid errors. This limits growth.
In practice, shift your focus from perfection to improvement. Every missed shot is a valuable clue that helps you refine your technique, movement, or decision-making. The more you experiment, the better you understand your strengths and weaknesses. Breakthroughs often come from those moments of “failure.”
Explore Different Shots, Strategies, and Movements
Practice should be a place of exploration. Don’t just stick to what feels comfortable—push your boundaries. Try hitting a more aggressive forehand down the line, develop a riskier second serve, or experiment with drop shots during rallies. Use practice to figure out what works for you, without the pressure of a match situation.
Stepping outside your comfort zone may lead to failure at first. But with repetition and persistence, those risks will start paying off. You’ll develop new weapons in your game, tools that can make all the difference when it counts.
Create Game-like Scenarios That Encourage Risk
Coaches play a key role in cultivating a risk-taking mentality. Setting up practices that replicate real match conditions—where decision-making under pressure is critical—can encourage players to take risks in a supportive environment.
One effective method is to introduce constraints. Limiting players to specific strokes or targeting particular areas of the court forces them to problem-solve, adapt, and take risks they might not normally take. This nurtures creative thinking and helps players discover their unique playing style.
Fail Forward: The Power of Resilience
Risk-taking isn’t about being reckless—it’s about making calculated decisions, even when the outcome isn’t certain. In practice, failure is inevitable. What’s important is to recognize that failure is a necessary step in the process. The more you miss, the more you learn.
Resilience comes from the willingness to keep trying after each missed shot, bad practice, or tough day. You won’t be defined by your failures, but by how you respond to them. Dust yourself off, swing again, and keep pushing forward.
Celebrate Risk, Not Just Success
Too often, we celebrate success and ignore the risks that didn’t pay off. But risk-taking should be acknowledged and rewarded, even if the result wasn’t perfect. Coaches can foster a growth mindset by recognizing the effort behind ambitious attempts, whether or not they succeed.
This helps junior players feel supported when taking chances, reinforcing the idea that practice is a space for growth. Players who feel safe to experiment in practice will carry that confidence into match play.
Understand That Fear Is Normal—But Don’t Let It Stop You
Feeling nervous about taking risks is normal—even the best athletes experience fear. The difference is how they handle it. Instead of letting fear paralyze you, acknowledge it and push through. In practice, you have the perfect environment to confront your fear without the pressures of competition.
It’s in these moments that you build courage. Over time, the risks that once felt intimidating will become second nature. You’ll develop the confidence that comes from knowing you’ve put in the work to overcome challenges and elevate your game.
Remember, practice is your laboratory. It’s the place to experiment, test ideas, fail, and discover what works for you. Don’t be afraid to take risks, explore, and make mistakes—because in doing so, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success.
Every risk you take brings you one step closer to becoming the player you’re meant to be. So next time you step onto the court, remind yourself that practice is the perfect place to explore, experiment, and, most importantly, embrace risk.
