Wimbledon 2017: Judy Murray SLAMS parents for not encouraging next set of tennis stars
JUDY Murray told of her fears that parents are no longer teaching basic skills needed for Britain to breed a great generation of tennis talent.
Judy Murray believes parents are not teaching their kids basic skills for tennis playing
Tennis coach Judy, 57, raised concerns the UK did not have the “strength in depth” that it should as a grand slam nation.
Judy spent time teaching world number one Andy and his brother Jamie to catch soft toys when they were too young to hold a tennis racquet.
She wants to capitalise on her son’s legacy and encourage busy parents to get kids off the couch and away from computer screens and tablets.
Judy said parents played an ‘absolutely critical’ role.
She told The Telegraph: “They can help the kids to learn basic co-ordination and motor skills.
Judy claimed she spent time teaching son Andy Murray and his brother Jamie how to catch
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You have kids now coming into sport who are less coordinated than they have ever been before because they don’t play actively.
“Ten minutes a day throwing and catching; balloons, left-hand, right-hand.
"There are zillions of games that can be done at home.
“You have kids now coming into sport who are less coordinated than they have ever been before because they don’t play actively.
“If you can’t throw and catch a bouncing ball, you will not be able to hit a bouncing ball over the net.
Judy said organised activity is missing in today's generation
“All that free play, rather than organised activity, is what I would say is missing.”
But reigning champion Murray, 30, seems to have fallen into the same trap as other parents with daughter Sophia who is just 17-months-old.
The toddler has spend so much time watching Peppa Pig that even he’s hooked on the popular childrens’ TV programme.
Murray said: “My favourite TV programme just now is Peppa Pig.
Andy claimed he was hooked on watching Peppa pig with his daughter
“I watch it a lot with my daughter - it keeps her quiet sometimes if she’s in a bad mood for 15, 20 minutes or so.
“Peppa Pig is currently a life-saver for me.”
Murray was speaking during a BBC interview where children asked him questions.
His wife, Kim, is pregnant with their second child.