Tennis Coaching

Quick Navigation

Children Tennis Development Programme

Introductory Tennis for Children

Designed as the ideal starting point for youngsters, this course blends the fundamentals of tennis with engaging activities to captivate young imaginations. With a focus on fostering a genuine love for the sport, children will learn basic techniques, hand-eye coordination, and sportsmanship, setting them on a path for lifelong engagement with tennis.

Key Components

  1. Basic Skills Introduction: Focus on introducing the fundamental tennis strokes (forehand, backhand), basic footwork, and the concept of rallying. The programme utilises age-appropriate equipment, including smaller rackets and softer balls, to ensure safety and facilitate learning.
  2. Motor Skills Development: Incorporating activities that enhance coordination, agility, and balance. These skills are crucial not only for tennis but for overall physical development in young children.
  3. Fun and Games: Emphasizing learning through play, sessions include a variety of fun games and activities designed to teach tennis skills in an enjoyable and stress-free environment. This approach helps to maintain high levels of engagement and enthusiasm among the children.
  4. Introduction to Tennis Etiquette and Rules: Teaching children the basic rules of tennis and the importance of sportsmanship, respect for opponents, and teamwork. These early lessons in etiquette lay the groundwork for positive behaviour on and off the court.
  5. Parental Involvement: Offering guidance for parents on how to support their child’s tennis journey, including tips for practice at home and how to encourage a positive attitude towards learning and development.

Children's Tennis Bootcamp (ages 4-9)

This dynamic programme combines tennis skills with overall physical development, tailored to instil a lifelong love for the sport and an active lifestyle among children.

The Children’s Tennis Bootcamp is specially designed for young enthusiasts aged 4 to 9, offering a perfect blend of fun, education, and physical activity. This programme serves as an introduction to the world of tennis, focusing on developing fundamental skills, fostering a love for the sport, and encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle from an early age.

Key Components

  1. Fundamental Skills: Introduction to basic tennis strokes (forehand, backhand), serving, and volleying using age-appropriate equipment and methods. Emphasis is placed on developing hand-eye coordination, balance, and agility.
  2. Physical Development: Engaging in fun, tennis-related fitness activities designed to improve general physical fitness, including running, jumping, and coordination drills that cater to young children’s developmental needs.
  3. Mini-Games and Activities: These games are designed to reinforce skills learnt, encourage teamwork, and ensure that children have fun while learning.
  4. Social Skills and Sportsmanship: Fostering a positive and supportive environment where children learn the importance of teamwork, fair play, and sportsmanship. 

Mastering Footwork and Advanced Strokes (ages 4-9)

The course is specially designed for children keen on taking their tennis skills to the next level. Focused on the crucial aspects of footwork and advanced stroke techniques, this comprehensive program empowers young players to improve their agility, precision, and overall gameplay. By blending fun with focused training, we create an engaging environment where children can thrive, grow, and develop a deeper love for the sport.

Key Components

  1. Dynamic Footwork Drills: Emphasis on improving speed, balance, and agility through a series of dynamic footwork drills. Introduction to the concept of “split step” and its importance in preparing for shots.
  2. Advanced Stroke Techniques: Progressive instruction on advanced forehand and backhand techniques, focusing on power, spin, and control. Development of serve and volley skills, teaching players when and how to effectively approach the net.
  3. Tactical Game Play: Guided match play to apply footwork and stroke techniques in real game situations. Introduction to basic tennis strategies and shot selection to outsmart opponents.
  4. Physical Conditioning: Tennis-specific fitness routines to build the strength and endurance required for advanced play. Coordination and flexibility exercises to prevent injuries and improve performance.

Children’s Tennis Tournament (ages 4-9)

Our “Children’s Tennis Tournament” offers a fantastic platform for young players aged 4 to 9 to experience the thrill of competition in a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere. This event is the ideal setting to ignite a lifelong passion for tennis, emphasising fun, engagement, and the development of sportsmanship.

Key Components

  1. Pre-Tournament Clinics: Held a week before the tournament, these clinics offer participants a chance to refine their skills, understand the rules of the game, and prepare mentally and physically for competition.
  2. Sportsmanship Awards: Recognising not only the winners but also participants who exhibit outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and improvement throughout the tournament.
  3. Family Engagement: Encouraging family involvement with activities and viewing areas set up for parents and siblings, making it a memorable event for the whole family.
  4. Celebration Ceremony: A post-tournament celebration where participants are recognised and awarded, reinforcing the value of participation, effort, and personal growth.

Junior Tennis Development Programme

Junior Tennis Bootcamp (ages 10-16)

Our Junior Tennis Bootcamp is tailored for aspiring young players aged 10 to 16, dedicated to pushing their limits and elevating their game to new heights. This comprehensive programme combines advanced tennis training, rigorous fitness routines, and mental toughness exercises, all designed to prepare participants for competitive play and significant personal growth.

Key Components

  1. Advanced Technical Training: Delving into high-level techniques and tactics, including spin control, shot placement, and serve-volley strategies. Customised coaching is provided to address individual strengths and weaknesses, ensuring personalised development.
  2. Physical Conditioning: A tailored fitness programme focusing on enhancing agility, strength, endurance, and speed, vital for competitive tennis. Includes tennis-specific exercises, such as plyometrics, agility ladders, and resistance training, to improve on-court performance.
  3. Mental Toughness Training: Incorporating psychological strategies to build resilience, concentration, and confidence under pressure. Sessions cover goal setting, stress management techniques, and visualisation exercises, crucial for overcoming the mental challenges of competitive play.
  4. Competitive Match Play: Regular intra-camp matches and simulated tournament scenarios to practice match strategies, adapt to different playing styles, and learn to manage match pressure effectively.
  5. Nutritional Guidance: Workshops on sports nutrition to educate players on optimal eating habits for training and competition, ensuring they fuel their bodies correctly for peak performance and recovery.
  6. Injury Prevention and Recovery: Guidance on proper warm-up and cool-down routines, injury prevention exercises, and recovery methods, including stretching and foam rolling, to keep players healthy and reduce the risk of injury.

Precision Footwork and Master Strokes (ages 10-16)

This course focuses on honing precision footwork and mastering sophisticated stroke techniques, providing a robust foundation for high-level play. Through a blend of intensive training, strategic gameplay, and mental conditioning, we offer a stimulating environment for juniors to push their limits, refine their skills, and cultivate a winning mindset.

Key Components

  1. Precision Footwork Mastery: Advanced drills to enhance agility, speed, and balance, emphasizing the efficiency of movement for optimal court coverage. Techniques to refine the split step and transition movements, critical for reacting to opponents’ shots with speed and precision.
  2. Mastering Advanced Strokes: In-depth coaching on advanced forehand and backhand techniques, including power generation, spin variation, and shot placement. Specialized serve and volley clinics to develop aggressive net play strategies, including poaching and drop volleys. Training in executing high-level shots like the topspin lob, drop shot, and angled volleys to diversify match strategies.
  3. Strategic Gameplay and Match Intelligence: Structured match play scenarios to implement advanced footwork and stroke techniques under competitive conditions. Sessions on understanding and exploiting opponents’ weaknesses, including advanced pattern play and strategic shot selection. Development of on-court awareness and quick decision-making skills, simulating high-pressure match situations.
  4. Advanced Physical Conditioning: Customized fitness programs targeting the specific demands of advanced tennis play, focusing on endurance, core strength, and muscular power. Injury prevention strategies, including dynamic stretching and mobility exercises tailored to the rigorous nature of competitive tennis.

Junior Tennis Championship (ages 10-16)

Our Junior Tennis Championship is a premier event for young athletes aged 10 to 16, designed to provide a competitive platform where seasoned junior players can showcase their tennis skills, strategic acumen, and sportsmanship. This tournament is not just about winning; it’s about setting the stage for future champions, encouraging personal growth, and elevating the competitive spirit in a fair and respectful environment.

Key Components

  1. Pre-Championship Clinics: Specialised training sessions offered in the weeks leading up to the championship, focusing on refining techniques, match strategies, and mental preparation to ensure players are at their best.
  2. Sportsmanship Recognition: A key feature of our championship is the emphasis on sportsmanship. Awards and recognition go beyond match outcomes, celebrating players who exhibit exceptional respect, fairness, and camaraderie.
  3. Professional Officiating: Matches are overseen by experienced officials to ensure fairness and adherence to the highest standards of competition, providing a professional experience for all participants.
  4. Interactive Workshops: Apart from the on-court action, the championship includes workshops on mental toughness, nutrition, and injury prevention, contributing to the holistic development of the participants.
  5. Family and Community Engagement: Encouraging a festival-like atmosphere, the championship invites families and the local community to support the players, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

Adult Tennis Development Programme

Adult Tennis Evolution (All Skill Levels)

Welcome to the “Adult Tennis Evolution” Programme – your gateway to mastering tennis, regardless of whether you’re swinging a racket for the first time or aiming to refine your skills further. This programme caters specifically to adults, embodying a holistic approach that encompasses skill development, fitness enhancement, social interaction, and fostering a genuine love for tennis. It’s tailored for those eager to weave tennis into their lifestyle, offering an enriching experience that transcends the court.

Key Components

  1. Foundational Skills and Advanced Techniques: Starting with grip fundamentals, stance, and basic shots, progressing to advanced techniques for those ready to elevate their game. Tailored instruction ensures all participants grow, regardless of their starting point.
  2. Personalised Coaching Approach: Recognising the unique journey of each participant, our coaching strategy adapts to individual needs, learning styles, and improvement pace, making tennis accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
  3. Physical Fitness and Conditioning: A fitness regimen that complements on-court training, focusing on improving overall health, tennis-related fitness, and injury prevention. Emphasises cardiovascular health, flexibility, and strength training relevant to tennis.
  4. Strategic Play and Mental Agility: Enhances understanding of game strategy, court positioning, and opponent analysis, coupled with mental skills training to boost focus, resilience, and enjoyment of the game.
  5. Social Play and Community Building: Regularly scheduled social tennis events, mixers, and friendly tournaments designed to foster a sense of community, offering opportunities for networking, friendship, and competitive fun in a supportive environment.

Senior Tennis Mastery – Age is Just a Number

Introducing the “Senior Tennis Mastery” programme, a special initiative crafted with the senior player in mind. Recognizing that tennis is a sport to be enjoyed for a lifetime, this programme is dedicated to those who believe that age should not be a barrier to playing, improving, and relishing the game. Designed for players who wish to safely continue their tennis journey, enhance their skills, and embrace the vibrant social life that tennis offers, this programme is a testament to the timeless appeal of tennis.

Key Components

  1. Skill Adaptation and Improvement: Customised training focuses on adapting techniques to suit individual physical capabilities, with an emphasis on skill refinement rather than intensity, ensuring participants can enjoy and improve their game without undue strain.
  2. Injury Prevention and Physical Well-being: Incorporating exercises and warm-ups specifically designed to prevent injuries, improve flexibility, and maintain physical health. This component is crucial for enabling senior players to enjoy tennis safely.
  3. Mental Engagement and Tactical Thinking: Engaging the mind as well as the body, with sessions on strategic play, game analysis, and mental exercises that enhance focus and enjoyment of the game, catering to the intellectual aspects of tennis.
  4. Social Interaction and Community Building: A key aspect of the programme is fostering a sense of community among senior players. Regular social gatherings, doubles play, and friendly tournaments encourage camaraderie, networking, and mutual support within the tennis community.
  5. Lifestyle and Enjoyment Focus: Beyond technical skills and competition, the programme celebrates tennis as a source of joy, health, and social interaction, promoting a balanced and active lifestyle that contributes significantly to the quality of life.

Control the Game

High-Performance Tennis Workshops

Crafted for athletes committed to reaching the pinnacle of their potential. Focusing on advanced techniques, strength and conditioning, and match strategy, you’ll receive personalised guidance tailored to push your limits and maximize your performance.

Ultimate Stress-Test Tennis Training

The Ultimate Stress-Test Tennis Training is an intensive five-session regimen specifically designed to push players to their limits both mentally and physically. Utilising a set of 72 Head Tour balls, this high-octane 60-minute course places you in the most challenging tennis scenarios with minimal breaks, simulating the pressure-cooker conditions of high-stakes matches. It’s not just about your skill set; it’s about making lightning-fast decisions, employing strategic game adjustments, and executing under duress. And remember, only winners count here; every shot you make will be scrutinised, sharpening your competitive edge.

Forehand Focus

The Forehand Focus: A Five-Session Masterclass is an in-depth tennis training programme exclusively honing in on your forehand game. Spanning 60 minutes, each session begins with a stringent “forehand-only” half-hour, compelling you to direct all your energy and attention towards mastering this critical stroke. Following this intense focus period, the session opens up to allow for all types of strokes; however, make no mistake—only forehand winners will be counted. This unique structure ensures you not only improve your forehand but also learn to incorporate it strategically into your broader game for maximum impact.

Backhand Brilliance

The Backhand Brilliance: A Five-Session Masterclass serves as a specialised tennis training programme, meticulously tailored to elevate your backhand skills. Over the course of 60 minutes, each session commits the first half-hour exclusively to backhand strokes, compelling you to perfect this often-underestimated element of your game. As the session progresses, the restrictions are lifted, allowing for a full range of strokes; yet, it’s only the backhand winners that truly count. This targeted focus ensures that you not only refine your backhand technique but also understand how to strategically deploy it within the wider context of your tennis arsenal.

Unleash the Spin

Unleash the Spin: A Five-Session Slice Spectacular offers a dynamic and enjoyable tennis training experience, carefully designed to help you master the elusive art of the slice. Across each 60-minute session, the first 20 minutes are devoted to meticulously honing your backhand and forehand slices through diverse gameplay scenarios. The remaining 40 minutes escalate into high-intensity rallies where the rules are simple: only slice winners take the spotlight. By immersing you in this slice-centric environment, this programme pushes you to perfect the spin, ultimately leaving your opponents confounded and scrambling.

Elevate Your Serve

Elevate Your Serve: A Comprehensive Five-Session Serving Bootcamp is a laser-focused tennis training programme specifically tailored to help you dominate with your serve. Over the course of 60-minute sessions, the programme drills down into the pivotal elements that constitute a powerful and effective serve. These elements include pinpoint accuracy, mastery of the T-point, corner-hitting finesse, raw power, and inventive serve placement, especially under high-pressure situations. In a crescendo of intensity, each session culminates in a final challenge: you will execute 200 serves, and only direct points—those awe-inspiring aces—will be counted.

Mastering the Art of Tennis Volleys: A Rick Macci-Inspired Course

Mastering the Art of Tennis Volleys: A Rick Macci-Inspired Course on Volleys by Feet offers an in-depth, step-by-step guide to perfecting one of tennis’s most challenging skills—the volley. Developed in accordance with techniques I’ve learned from tennis guru Rick Macci, this course zeroes in on the often-overlooked role of footwork in executing dynamic volleys. Enrol in this comprehensive programme if you’re keen to learn the secrets of utilising your feet to produce volleys with an unparalleled impact.

From the correct stance to precise foot positioning, this course takes you through the essential components of volleying with efficacy and grace. Once you master these elements, you’ll be equipped to deliver volleys that not only stun your opponents but also elevate your overall tennis game.

Master the Eight Fundamental Patterns

Elevate Your Tennis Game: Master the Eight Fundamental Patterns with Advanced “Deep-Wide-Finish” Techniques is a comprehensive course that goes beyond basic training to hone your skills in advanced tennis strategies. This course is designed for seasoned players who wish to refine their gameplay and make use of sophisticated techniques to gain a competitive edge.

The course focuses on the eight core patterns of tennis play that every player should master:

  • Out-Rally the Opponent
  • Play Aggressively
  • Play to Your Strengths
  • Target the Opponent’s Weakness
  • Attack the Net
  • Draw the Opponent to the Net
  • Use Variety to Create Mistakes or Short Balls
  • Open the Court
 

In addition to these, the highlight of the course is the “Deep-Wide-Finish” advanced pattern. This sophisticated strategy teaches you to use depth and angle to position your opponent defensively, setting you up for a decisive finishing shot. Mastering this tactic will allow you to fluidly integrate it into the eight basic patterns, adding an extra layer of unpredictability and effectiveness to your game.

Through focused training sessions, detailed tactical analysis, and real-time feedback, you’ll gain the confidence to use the “Deep-Wide-Finish” strategy to its fullest potential, giving you an invaluable advantage in competitive play.

Focus on Winning

Tennis Coaching

I first picked up a tennis racket at the tender age of 7, and even then, it was no ordinary racket—it was a wooden one, a relic that still occupies a sentimental corner of my garage. From that moment, I recognised that tennis wasn’t merely a game; it was a crucible that tested myriad facets of human capabilities—be it technical prowess, strategic acumen, psychological resilience, keen opponent analysis, or the unerring speed of decision-making.

I formalised my passion by earning my professional tennis coaching licence in England in 2013, an endeavour for which I had the good fortune to train at the renowned Bromley Tennis Centre. To this day, I remain steadfast in my conviction that Bromley is the epitome of tennis excellence in Great Britain—a belief cemented by the exceptional mentorship of my instructor, Sue Bamford. A heartfelt thanks to Bromley for the invaluable experience and guidance.

When it comes to my personal coaching approach, I adhere to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) guidelines and pedagogical principles, ensuring a rigorous and transparent coaching methodology honed by experts in the field. Given the global nature of the sport, I conduct all coaching sessions in English. This is not merely a stylistic choice but a strategic one; it prepares my students—be they children, juniors, or adults—for the broader tennis world and the realities of international competition. Whether planning to train in the United States or the United Kingdom, my students find that their grasp of English expedites their acclimatisation to new coaching environments. This also allows them to practice English in a range of tennis-specific contexts, from strategic discussions and psychological coaching to understanding intricate instructions and articulating their challenges more effectively.

Junior Tennis

Embarking on a junior tennis career represents a pivotal “crossroads” moment, where players must decide the trajectory of their engagement with the sport. On one hand, they might opt for a more leisurely approach, progressing at their own pace purely for the love of the game. This path often leads to becoming accomplished recreational or local amateur players who find joy in casual matches and occasional competitions. On the other hand, some choose to delve into the high-stakes, fiercely competitive realm of professional tennis, governed by ATP and WTA rankings. This stage is fraught with pressures from various quarters—parents, academics, peer groups, personal aspirations, and self-doubt—each weighing heavily on the decision to pursue elite-level competition.

From my extensive coaching experience, I can attest that the majority of junior players—roughly 99%—share similar foundational skills; they can reliably strike the ball. However, a mere 10% manage to cultivate the nuanced elements of tennis mastery: a robust psychological framework, keen strategic thinking, astute tactics, and split-second decision-making. While practice sessions with a coach can offer some indication of a player’s abilities, the true litmus test comes in the form of international competitions against peers from around the globe.

Having observed young competitors from diverse backgrounds at tournaments in London, I can say that the pressure of the international stage often leads to uncharacteristic errors—missteps rarely seen in practice sessions. This experience is especially enlightening for players as they find themselves isolated on the court, sans coach, with the weight of each decision resting solely on their shoulders. The decisions they make during these pressured moments reveal the efficacy of their coaching and training.

The complexity of junior tennis is heightened by the variable interests and priorities of adolescents. This period often prompts soul-searching questions like, “Should I commit to professional tennis, or should I savour my youth in a less demanding environment?” It’s at this critical juncture that many budding tennis careers unfortunately meet an untimely end. Hence, my coaching approach goes beyond the court; I engage closely with parents to tailor a coaching strategy that best suits the individual needs, aspirations, and circumstances of each young athlete.

Tennis For Adults

Coaching adult tennis players presents its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, often divergent from the junior scene. Whether you’re a beginner picking up a racket for the first time or a seasoned competitor aiming to climb the rankings, the adult tennis journey is marked by specific technical, psychological, and even aspirational hurdles. One frequent stumbling block is the persistence of outdated or incorrect techniques, often a hangover from previous coaching experiences. As adults continue to evolve as players, it’s imperative to align their training with their specific skill sets and capabilities.

A common inquiry I hear is: “Can you teach me to serve like Roger Federer?” While tempting to emulate the greats, I often jest that if it were as simple as mimicking a YouTube video, the ATP rankings would be awash with Federer clones. The reality, of course, is far more nuanced. I encourage players to draw inspiration from tennis legends like Federer, Pete Sampras, or Andre Agassi, but ultimately to mould their own unique playing style. Too many adult players squander valuable practice time seeking to perfectly replicate professional strokes they’ve seen online. Instead, the focus should be on mastering the fundamentals, enjoying the game, and refining one’s individual approach to winning.

Adult tennis training varies drastically depending on the player’s goals and current level of competition. With this in mind, I offer training tailored to three distinct categories:

  • Beginners: Those looking to embark on their tennis journey.
  • Amateur Competitors: Players seeking to improve their game and dominate local competitions.
  • ATP/WTA Contenders: High-profile athletes demanding specialized, intensive coaching to meet the rigours of professional competition.
 

Each category requires a bespoke approach, fine-tuned to meet the player’s specific needs and aspirations, whether it’s casual weekend play or the high-stakes arena of professional tennis.

Tennis For Seniors

Tennis is experiencing a surge in popularity amongst seniors, and for good reason. The sport offers a fantastic blend of physical exercise, mental acuity, and social interaction. So, can I train someone who is 60 years old? Absolutely! Age should never be a barrier to embarking on or continuing a journey in tennis. There’s a wealth of techniques to master and strategies to explore, no matter your age.

Not only does tennis offer a wonderful opportunity for physical exercise, it also provides an incredible boost for mental well-being. Imagine the sense of achievement when you can send a text to a friend saying, “Fancy a match tomorrow at 9:00?” It’s a testament to the ongoing vigour of life, even as we age. Staying active in one’s later years is crucial not just for physical health, but also for maintaining a sense of community and purpose.

The joys of tennis are not limited by age; they are broadened by it. Whether you’re perfecting your serve or learning the intricacies of a drop shot, there’s always something new to challenge you. So, if you’re a senior looking to add a dash of excitement and health benefits to your life, tennis is an excellent choice. Don’t let age deter you; let it inspire you.

Professionalism and Ethics

Working with people, particularly children, necessitates a high degree of professionalism and ethical conduct. As a coach, it’s essential to be an adept listener, a keen psychologist, and a discerning judge of diverse personalities. Effective communication between the coach, players, and parents is vital for fostering a positive and productive learning environment.

Children’s dynamics often present challenges—whether it’s mockery amongst peers, mood swings in adolescents, or the impatience sometimes displayed by parents. I am acutely aware of these variables and strive to mitigate their impact while keeping the focus on tennis development.

Moreover, a coach must be well-versed in child protection protocols, accommodating medical conditions, and embracing diversity. I adhere strictly to high standards in all these aspects to provide parents with peace of mind. Ensuring that training sessions comply with all health and safety regulations is a priority for me.

Finally, a coach should possess a strong character tempered with empathy. It’s not merely about reacting to issues but proactively providing the guidance needed to preempt problems. I aim to be more than just a tennis coach; I aspire to be a motivator who inspires improvement and instills the will to win.

With these principles in mind, I seek to create a comprehensive coaching environment that is not just about hitting balls across a net but about building character, discipline, and life skills.

Scroll to Top