If you’ve decided that tennis coaching is for you, the first step is to get some formal training. The coach you have been assisting is likely to have given you some informal training but you need to be aware that they will be telling you about their own approach and philosophy, which may not necessarily be suited to your own style or character.

Taking a formal qualification will enable you to start to develop your own coaching style and provide you with the means to apply for coaching positions in your own right.

Your own standard of play will be an important factor in your career as a tennis coach, particularly if you foster ambition to be a ‘performance’ coach.   The LTA have recently introduced minimum playing standards for all of their new qualifications past UKCC level 2 so you will need to consider whether your own standard will need to be improved and worked on in order to achieve your desired ambition in coaching.

There are four main certification bodies in the UK (click on the name of the organisation to visit their coach education web site):

  • LTA – The Lawn Tennis Association are the governing body of the sport in Britain and run their own programme of coaching qualifications.
  • PTR – The Professional Tennis Registry is an American organisation with a UK satellite operation.
  • RPT – The RPT is a Spanish organisation with a UK satellite operation.
  • TENNIS IRELAND – Tennis Ireland is the governing body of the sport in Ireland and runs its own coaching qualification programme.

So which is the best one to take?    There is no doubt that the LTA dominate coach education in Britain, resulting in a market where the LTA controlled clubs and centres are required to employ coaches with an LTA qualification.

General consensus among coaches who have taken the LTA route in the past is that the LTA courses have been good at teaching candidates about effective communication and organisational skills, but have not been so good at delivering modern technical knowledge and knowhow.    The PTR and RPT qualifcations have to date generally been regarded as better technical courses than the LTA equivalents.   There are a growing number of coaches taking a mixture of qualifications from all three organisations to provide them with the best of all worlds.

LTA COACH LICENCE

An important consideration is where you intend to work in the future. If you want to work in Britain and keep as many options available to you as possible, you will need to obtain an LTA COACH LICENCE. The licence is renewable on a yearly basis and is available to coaches who have either:

a) Passed the LTA Coach qualification (or its older equivalent, the DCA) or higher;

b) Passed the RPT Mark of a Pro plus qualification or higher; or

c) Passed the LTA Pathway course.

Many jobs advertised in Britain will stipulate that applicants should have the Coach Licence so having one will ensure you are as marketable as possible. The RPT route is currently the cheapest and quickest route to obtaining a licence.

Should you wish to work abroad, it will be worth considering the RPT route if it is Europe you intend working in, or the PTR if the US is your ultimate destination.

CALL US FOR FURTHER ADVICE

Coaches unsure as to what path to take are welcome to call us on 01902 758500 for impartial advice