Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
How do you find the right tennis coach for your child? Is it word of mouth? Past success? His name? How he/she looks or where they coach? These factors are superficial and can be deceiving in your judgment and choice of a good tennis coach.
When searching for a coach it's a great idea to ask as many questions as you can about the coach to find out who they are and what they do.
What type of person are they? The coach needs to be a good role model and mentor. Not just for tennis but for life, especially if your child wishes to continue and make a career out of tennis, whether it be as a player or coach.
The tennis coach needs to be an expert. There is a big difference between playing tennis well and coaching. Being a talented tennis player does not necessarily mean you can teach someone to play tennis.
The key to good tennis coaching is communication, not the expertise itself. A coach may be able to analyse every little detail of every single stroke, but telling this to the student can overwhelm and confuse them. Observe your potential coach and see how many instructions he or she gives.
Can the students follow them? Tennis coaching isn't about proving you are a tennis expert, but that you can transform the student into a tennis player.
Make sure the coach is up-to-date with the latest coaching methodology. Many coaches (especially older coaches) have not made the transition to modern style and are stuck teaching what they learned 25 years ago.
Attending seminars and workshops can help keep coaches up to date, but only if the coach is willing to change. The 'game-based approach' is a better approach to coaching rather than the 'old school' feeding from the basket for the entire lesson, in my opinion.
Tennis lessons are about you and your game. It's your time, energy and money. Don't be afraid to change coaches if you are not getting what you need. Choosing the right coach can make all the difference in how your skills develop and the fun you can have while learning. Good luck!
