A CAREER IN COACHING?

Peter Farrell

November 26th 2006.

What factors would encourage you to play tennis?”

1. Combine tennis with a good physical workout.

2. Availability of lessons to improve skills.

(ITF WORLD WIDE SURVEY 2004).

• “Our coaches are probably the single most important group of people when it comes

to attracting, developing and retaining players in the sport. Coaches play a key

role at every level of the game.”

(LTA BLUEPRINT FOR BRITISH TENNIS 2006).

“It can be five times more expensive in terms of time and money to attract a new player than to retain an existing one.”

(LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION - UK).

COACH CAREER PATHWAY.

AGE 16 -18.

• Assist coach at own Club.

• Targeted, encouraged, assisted by Club to apply for

Tennis Ireland Level One Coaches Training Course.

COACH CAREER PATHWAY.

AGE 19 - 20.

• Tennis Ireland Level One Course.

• Work at Club - young juniors/beginner adults.

• Assist Club Coach with more experienced players.

• Entering Mentoring Programme.

• Travel abroad for short work periods.

COACH CAREER PATHWAY.

AGE 21 - 25.

• Tennis Ireland Level Two Course.

• Observational trips abroad to tournaments.

• Speak at Irish Coaches Conferences and Workshops.

• Publish articles in tennis journals/magazines/websites.

COACH CAREER PATHWAY.

AGE 26 - 30.

• Tennis Ireland Level Three Course.

• Head Coach at Club.

• Future Career Path - • Clubs?

• Schools?• High Performance?

COACH CAREER PATHWAY.

AGE 31 - 40.

• Director of Tennis.

• Tennis Ireland Tutor Course (NCTC).

• Sports Management Courses.

• Employ assistants.

• Mentor young coaches.

COACH CAREER PATHWAY.

AGE 41 - 60.

• Develop, organise, monitor programmes to be implemented by staff/assistants.

• Management role in Club.

• Tutoring new coaches.

“There is too little in the way of career structure or

performance incentives for British coaches.”

(LTA BLUEPRINT FOR BRITISH TENNIS 2006).

PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES• Career Path in place.

• Coaches retainer.• Coaches contract.

• Finance/part finance coaches training courses.• Ask coach to speak at AGM.

• Grand Slam tournament tickets.• Honorary membership of Club.

• Finance attendance at Conferences/ Workshops.• Designated parking spot!

THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF CLUBS/COACHES:

• Those who make things happen…

• Those who watch things happen..

• Those who wonder what the hell just happened….