Developing inspirational tennis coaches – how the LTA Instructor course and the coaching pathway are raising the standards of coaches in Britain

Why was there a need to revamp the LTA coaching courses?

MVB: We conducted an independent external review to look at what was good, where we could improve and what were the key challenges moving forward within coach education.

We listened to head coaches and asked them what they needed from those working with them on court, and we spoke to employers of coaches to ensure we develop courses and products that serve the needs of the industry. That insight told us that we needed the equivalent of a group exercise instructor for tennis. We also saw that 68 per-cent of employers said it was too easy to pass Levels 1 and 2 and the standard of coach entering the industry was simply not good enough. There was a real perception that you could just turn up to the course, fill in the forms and you would get through fine. The course did not prepare you for the demands of the role in the industry, so we needed to change that.

There is a big focus on the digital element of this course. Why is that important for a modern coach?

JW: There are two reasons for including a strong digital element. Firstly, digital skills are key tools that modern coaches will use in their coaching, promotions, programme planning and management. These skills are learned and augmented across the many tasks that learners will do on the course.

Secondly, by housing a lot of the knowledge-building activities online, the course can prioritize the skill-building work for the face-to-face days. Both are equally important for coaches, and by splitting the content in this way a significant proportion of the course can be done at home, without travel, and in the learners’ own time. This makes the course as accessible as possible, whilst still driving up quality.

The final part of the triad, to complement knowledge and skills, is the practical application gained through the eight hours of qualification experience built into the course.

What are the primary targets for our revamped coaching courses?

MVB: Our overall ambition is to develop inspirational coaches that can grow the game. A more rigorous LTA Instructor (Level 2) is a great opportunity to drive up standards in our coaching pool but also be more relevant to the demands of the industry. The team have introduced a readiness test that is crucial to the process. We are now hearing consistent feedback that this is the best thing we could have done because it results in skillful, trained professionals who have a sound grasp of the game from a technical and tactical perspective. This is critical if we are to have a respected coaching profession.

Are we aiming to attract more female coaching talent into the system?

JW: We have strategic grant funding, distributed through our Coach Development Centre (CDC) network, with the specific aim of increasing the numbers of female coaches entering the pathway at Assistant. CDCs have agreed objectives to increase female learner numbers, and they have the flexibility to decide how to utilise the grant funding across their jurisdictions.

For example, some have concentrated on marketing and promotion directly to potential female candidates, whilst others have underwritten courses to provide discounts. 2022 saw an uplift in female coach numbers at Assistant, and we are continuing with this drive into 2023.

How have demands on a tennis coach changed in recent years?

MVB: The role of a coach in the modern era is exciting, challenging and more varied than ever. You need skills in everything from tactical development to business development. The skills you need to operate safely and competently have expanded so much in recent years and we are simply adapting to that. As an example, you can't have a coach without any digital skills or any knowledge of safeguarding and athlete welfare; this is not acceptable by today’s standards. The bar has been raised and I'm very proud of the advances our pathway has made to react to that. The LTA Instructor course is more challenging to pass and we make no apologies for that.