British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

Chatting to a couple of coaches who are stuck on level 3 and want to progress to level 4 coach, theyre both a bit disillusioned with the system, as the course runs 1x per year, has 16 spaces and costs £1575 which they would have to pay themselves

Also chatted to a D1 college grad who was hoping to give the pro tour a go and coach at the same time to provide funds to tour. They have 18 months experience as a coach in the US at two different tennis centres, but are unable to even get work as a hitter or coaching assistant here because they dont have any LTA qualifications. They have a job waiting, but will need to get qualified first and have to start at Level 1 - experience counts for nothing according to the LTA 

Another coach said theres a shortage of good coaches and predicted if the LTA carries on with the current strategy, there will be even fewer coaches in 20 years  

Coup Droit wrote:

---

There's been discussion about Italy's success

Some attribute it to the federation's decision some years back to have a marked increase in lower level ITF events

The US are taking a similar approach

I quote Colette Lewis:

"The SoCal Pro Series is now set to begin its fourth year, with seven consecutive weeks of men's and women's $15,000 tournaments in Southern California beginning next Monday. I have an article in the works about this Circuit, which will be serving as a template for increasing ITF-level events in the United States in the next two years."

---

 I think it is a good move and hope the UK can increase its events.