Before You Change Academies, Identify What Is Actually Holding Your Child Back
This match-based review is for junior event players whose results do not match their work. Leonard checks one full match. He finds the main issues and gives the family a clear 30-90 day plan.
By Leonard Stakhovsky · Founder, Stakhovsky Tennis
Request an Independent ReviewNo obligation to leave the current academy or coach.
A remote second opinion, grounded in match evidence
An Independent Junior Performance Review is a remote second view based on a full match. It also checks the player's event level and current plan. The family can then choose to stay and adjust, add focused work, book a short block, or get more proof before a costly move.
Training more, but not winning more?
A stall does not mean the academy has failed. The player may work on the wrong goal or hear mixed advice. Gains in easy drills may not change match choices. The player may also play too few or too many events. Health or time may be the real issue. The review finds the most likely block.
Full-match evidence, not edited highlights
- Full match or full set, not just highlights
- - Score trends and repeat point results
- - Choices on serve, return, attack, and defence
- - Stroke issues that show under score stress
- - Footwork and reset steps
- - The weekly plan and event dates
- - The current goals from the academy or home coach
- - Goals from the parent and player
- - Health facts shared by the family
A practical priority plan you can act on
- - A short match review
- - One to three goals ranked by likely gain
- - Match clips with notes
- - Questions for the current academy or home coach
- A 30-90 day priority plan
- - Clear advice: stay and adjust, add work, book a short block, or get one more test
- - An optional call to review the findings
A second opinion, not a sales script to leave the academy
The right advice may be to stay. A strong academy can remain the best long-term base. A focused outside review can still make one issue clear. The review supports a sound choice. It does not push a move to Prague.
Who should request it
- - A parent whose junior plays events but has stalled
- - A family that may make a costly academy move
- - A player who leaves a major academy with no clear next plan
- - A parent who gets broad reports but no clear goal to test
- - A home coach who wants an outside view of a match
What it is not
- A diagnosis from edited highlights alone
- - A claim that the current academy is wrong
- A ranking forecast
- - Health, mental-health, or legal advice
The research behind this approach
One study of elite junior categories found 9% of players already burned out and a further 13% at high risk. Results had often stalled before the player or coach identified burnout. (Burnout in elite tennis players of different junior categories)
Long-term development guidance is unusually concrete: keep organised tennis near the child’s age in hours per week and no more than about twelve, and cap tournaments at roughly two a month. Training past those limits raises injury and dropout risk without improving peak performance. (Training load and early specialisation in youth tennis)
External references are provided for your own evaluation; Stakhovsky Tennis is not affiliated with them.
Get clarity before making the next investment
Send the player's level, current academy or coach, weekly plan, recent results, goal, and full-match film. Leonard will check if this review fits before you go on.
Request an Independent Junior Performance ReviewOpen tennis research
Use the evidence behind pathway decisions
Compare the player’s number with the UTR rating chart and level benchmarks, then use full-match evidence to explain what the number cannot show. For a US pathway, check the college UTR, roster and scholarship evidence. Historical junior-to-pro conversion rates provide a separate long-term reference.
Visit the English research hub →Player evidence
See documented outcomes
See measured player gains, read full case studies, and check the limits before you choose a program.