Inclusion initiatives and grants
Tennis Opened Up is a vision for tennis to be truly open to all, no matter their background. This will only be fully achieved when every person’s experience of tennis and padel, in every place it is played, makes them feel included. We want to make sure our qualifications are welcoming and accessible to all, so that anyone can take their first steps on our Coaching Qualifications Pathway.
If you are unsure if you may qualify for funding towards your qualification please speak to your local Coach Development Centre or LTA Tennis County.
Did you know that only 24% of Accredited coaches in the UK are female?
It is through The LTA's vision of tennis opened up that we want to increase the number of female coaches. This is to ensure that women and girls benefit from visible relatable role models who create welcome and inclusive environments.
If you’re keen to get into coaching, you can access a free female taster course to try things out and see if it’s right for you. You can book onto one of the courses on the LTA Course Search Tool or speak to one of our Coach Development Centres directly.
Completed the free taster course? Why not book onto a Female only LTA Assistant: Core Training (Level 1) with one our Coach Development Centre partners.
LTA Instructor / LTA Tennis Coach: Discounted opportunities to qualify at Instructor and Tennis Coach may also be available through your local Coach Development Centre. If you’re interested in a course taking place, you can contact them directly to discuss.
Senior Coach: Click here to apply for LTA Senior Coach course. If successful in gaining a place, please contact daniel.mcardle@lta.org.uk to enquire about a potential funding.
Master Coach / Coach Tutor: Dates for the next Master Coach and Coach Tutor (CTQ) courses have not yet been released. If you wish to receive an email notification when dates have been confirmed and applications have opened, please submit your details via the Master Coach expression of interest form and/or CTQ expression of interest form. Further funding may be available once these courses are live.
Coach Mentoring: If you would like to apply for six free mentoring sessions, the LTA's Inclusion Bursary Scheme for female coaches is open to all levels of coaches and can be applied for using this form.
We’re committed to ‘Opening Up’ tennis with the hope of supporting more disabled people to become part of the future tennis coaching workforce in the UK.
If you’re disabled and/or have a long-term health condition that has lasted more than 12 months, we can support you on your journey to becoming a tennis coach.
Our new Coach Grant Scheme for Disabled People aims to support up to 50% of your course fee at Assistant or Instructor Level and a maximum of £300 at Level 3. If you wish to discuss this support and/or any reasonable adjustment that you may require on any course, please do get in touch with your local Coach Development Centre or speak to us.
Applicants interested in applying for the grant should follow this application link.
The LTA is committed to ensuring that our qualifications are accessible for all, which is why it is vital that all candidates where possible outline any reasonable adjustments/or special considerations you may require prior to attending the course. Please use this link to outline to the Coach Development Centre, LTA and Course Tutor the additional support needs that you will require on this course in order to maximise your learning.
The final decision made by the LTA Reasonable Adjustment panel cannot be challenged.
The LTA is looking to increase the percentage of coaches from ethnically diverse communities who are either starting or progressing through the LTA Qualification pathway.
We are, therefore, pleased to announce there is support available for the following courses, as well as mentoring, through an application process:
- Option 1: LTA Assistant (Level 1) and Instructor: Core Training (Level 2)*
- Option 2: Level 3 (Coach) qualification*
- Option 3: Level 4 (Senior Coach) qualification
- Option 4: Level 5 (Master Coach) qualification
- Option 5: Coach Tutor (CTQ) qualification
- Option 6: Four free mentoring sessions with an industry expert, fully funded by the LTA – Available for Level 1 to Level 5 coaches
*Coaches would still be responsible for covering costs for Electives and Assessments associated with the course.
Application Process
- Options 1 and 2: Qualification grants (Assistant, Instructor, Coach)
- Discounted opportunities for these courses may be available through your local Coach Development Centre. If you’re interested in a course taking place, you can contact them directly to discuss.
- Option 3: Click here to apply for LTA Senior Coach course. If successful in gaining a place, please contact daniel.mcardle@lta.org.uk to enquire about a grant.
- Option 4 and 5: Dates for the next Master Coach course and Coach Tutor (CTQ) qualification have not yet been released. If you wish to receive an email notification when dates have been confirmed and applications have opened, please submit your details via the Master Coach expression of interest form and/or CTQ expression of interest form.
- Option 6: Mentoring
- If you are a Level 1 – Level 3 Coach, four free mentoring sessions may be available through your local County Association. If you’re interested, you can contact them directly to discuss.
- If you would like to apply for six free mentoring sessions, the LTA's Diversity and Inclusion Bursary Scheme is open to all levels of coaches and can be applied for using this form.
Eligibility Criteria for Coaches
- Be aged 16 or over
- Be from an ethnically diverse community
- Hold all required pre-requisites for courses/grants being applied for
- The person applying must be the direct recipient of the grant
Expectations
Successful applicants are required to commit to:
- Become (or maintain status as) an LTA Accredited Coach at a registered venue within 12 months of completing the qualification (mandatory)
- Give back to their community through running a ‘low or no cost’ Tennis Xpress (or equivalent) course in their local community within 12 months of completing the qualification (non-mandatory) and/or volunteer 10 hours to their local tennis county.