Choosing & Finding a Coach
There are many tennis coaches in Britain, each with different skills and experience. It can be hard for players, parents, clubs and schools to choose the right coach.
When choosing a coach there are three main areas to consider:
1. Qualifications:
To know if a coach is right for you then it is useful to know what qualification the coach has, how much training the qualification involved and when the qualification was completed.
The UKCC Level 1 Coaching Assistant (3 days) is the first course in the Coach Qualification structure. Progression can then be made to the UKCC Level 2 Coaching Assistant course (5 days), before taking the ‘Coach Qualification’ (13 days) to become a fully qualified coach and specialise in either Performance and/or Club.
2. Accreditation:
LTA Accreditation provides a simple check on safety and professional standards. There are two types of LTA Accreditation available to coaches and coaching assistants, Registration and Licensing.
Registration is a basic level of accreditation for coaches and coaching assistants, but provided primarily for UKCC Level 1 and 2 Coaching Assistants.
Licensed coaches have a higher level of qualification and also complete regular training to keep their skills and knowledge up to date.
Both forms of accreditation mean that a coach or coaching assistant has met the following criteria:
- A minimum level of qualification
- A satisfactory criminal record check (repeated every three years)
- Valid first aid training, and a requirement to keep this up-to-date
- Signed up to the LTA’s professional standards
All LTA accredited coaches and coaching assistants are insured for their personal coaching activities.
3. Experience:
When thinking about employing a coach it is good practice to look at what qualifications they have. The qualification a coach will be indicative of the players they have been trained to coach, so it is important that you match their skills with your needs.
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