JrTennis.org

I am sure every child who plays competitive junior tennis has had to deal with a cheater. It’s not fun, and it’s not right.  But here is what we’ve told our daughter about having to deal with it.

Don’t cheat back. It’s bad manners, and by doing it or allowing it your child will think its ok to cheat in life.  Most of the kids who have a reputation as a cheater also have parents who condone it.  The odd thing to many parents is how the cheater’s parent howls when they think their child is being cheated.  I have seen matches between kids where they are both cheating, and each one thinks the other is completely out of line.  Plain and simple, it’s not ok to cheat, and if you think it is then you are reading the wrong blog.

Tell your child the one thing they can control on the court is themselves. They can call the lines honest, they can comport themselves in a sporting manner, they can make the game fun.  They can also hold their head high, knowing they did the right thing.

A player who cheats doesn’t think they are good enough to beat you fair and square. We have told our daughter that if someone has to cheat to beat you, they must think you are a really good player.  I have heard her saying this to other kids, and they have told others too.

Your child can ask a referee to come over and watch on a crucial point or a tie-breaker. It is perfectly within the rules for your child to ask for a referee, but it is NOT something you should do as a parent.  Only in extreme cases should a parent call for a referee, like if another parent is berating your child or another child.

Most kids call the lines honest, and every kid has made an honest mistake on a line call.  As our daughter is getting older, we are finding the cheaters are being dealt with by the referees.  They are watched a lot closer, and in some cases the referees will call lines on a match where a known cheater is playing.  We have told our daughter that if she is REALLY not sure of a call to give the point to her opponent.  She does seem to be the exception as to giving up points on line calls, but as a result she has the reputation of a really good kid who always calls the lines honest.  Other parents have complimented us on how she conducts herself on and off the court, which of course makes us pretty happy.