What's a Pronation?

Roddick & Ferrer demonstrate how to pronate using a serve in super slo-mo...

Coaching Education Requirements by Country

It's been a while since I blogged, but I've wanted write something on this topic for a while.

I've been lucky (in my travels as a player) to have been exposed to many different coaching styles. As I got out of competition and into coaching, I started to get frustrated and wondered if I was in the right profession. I became interested in different coaching styles and methods and attended various coaching workshops, seminars and conferences in different countries. I've seen and heard some great presenters. As a result, my coaching improved and I became more passionate about my profession. Seeing top coaches at work inspired me to learn everything out there, in a global sense, to become better educated about the different aspects of coaching.

The following is a list of key countries and their coaching education requirements for entry level coaches. Note: there are many countries missing from this list. For example, Belgium and France. These countries have much more stringent coaching requirements than other countries -- it takes years to train coaches to work with their under 12 players.

United Kingdom (LTA)

To become fully certified in the UK, it's done in two parts:

1. You must get a Level 1 - Coaching assistant qualification. This is an intro to coaching and is aimed at individuals who are enthusiastic about tennis and want to help a coach deliver mini tennis.

Duration: 3 days: 3 hours of actual coaching experience between day 2 and 3 of the course.

2. Level 2 - Coaching assistant: Certifies candidates to deliver group coaching to beginners and prepares peopler to run competitive formats for new players.

Duration: 5 days: 4 hrs coaching experience between day 2 and 3. 4 hrs between day 4 and 5.

Coaching structure for the LTA can been seen here

The ITF

Each year, 60 countries worldwide participate in the ITF's coaching education program.

To be certified as a Level 1 in the ITF, the course is divided into a 3 day Play Tennis course and a 7 day Tennis course. The goal of the 3 day Play Tennis course is directed at those interested in working with starter players. The goal of the 7 day tennis course is directed at those who promote tennis at the grassroots level up to the initial competition stage.

Play Tennis Duration: 3 days (21 hrs.)

Tennis Course Duration: 7 days (50 hrs.)

Coaching structure for the ITF can been seen here

United States: (USPTR & USPTA)

Coaching candidates can get certified in the US by two different organizations:

1. USPTR: Candidates receive study materials which include a DVD and test preparation guide. Candidates must then take a test prep workshop. Duration: (10 hrs.)

Upon completion of the workshop, candidates are tested using a five part PTR certification test.

The overall certification rating is the lowest of these five test scores. The highest certification rating is Professional, followed by Instructor, then Associate Instructor.

Coaching structure for the USPTR can been seen here

2. USPTA: Candidates are divided into two groups: those that have been teaching less than 3 years take the instructor exam: those that have been teaching more than 3 years take the professional exam. You must fill out a form to apply for either exam. Application fees include a short course to help you prepare for the exam. Duration: (7 hrs.)

Within the Professional level you can earn ratings (based on your test score) from: Professional 3 (lowest) to Professional 1 (highest).

Coaching structure for the USPTA can been seen here

Tennis Canada

The first level of certification in Canada is called the instructor course. It enables candidates to train players between 1.0 and 2.5 levels. The course is also designed to train candidates to excel at large group management. It has a GBA and progressive tennis focus and prepares these future coaches by arming them with enough information to in turn teach their students the fundamentals, as well as to have fun and stay in the sport.

There is an on-line ethical decision-making module exam to pass. As well, there is an off-court workbook and on-court test.

Duration: 6 days: (45 hrs.)

Coaching structure for Tennis Canada can been seen here

Tennis Australia

The Australian system has changed recently with three different streams: 1) Jr. Development 2) Club Professional 3) High Performance. This system is somewhat similar to Tennis Canada being that there different streams for coaches to enter based on their type of coaching.

The entry for coaches is called the orientation to coaching. The course covers basic skills of group organization, planning, safety aspects and modified games.

Duration: 4 Days

Coaching structure for Tennis Australia can been seen here

iTennisPro-Tennis Lesson For The iPhone/iPod Touch App for Progressive Tennis

Here's a Promo Video for the 1st Progressive Tennis App for a mobile Device..

For more information check out itennispro.net

Progressive Tennis is known as Quick Start tennis in the US, Play and Stay for the ITF...

The world is adopting progressive tennis as the best way for players to learn the game quickly and correctly. This app is the first in a series that will take players from beginners to intermediates to advanced faster than any other coaching method.

BIG NEWS

I've created the world's first video tennis lesson app for the iPhone/iPod Touch.

It's based progressive tennis. A teaching methodology endorsed by the ITF. It's the most modern, fastest way for beginners to learn the game...

Check out the website: iTennisPro.net

Here's a video by the ITF's Play and Stay initiative that explains progressive tennis in a little more detail... or check out the side bar, there you will see our promo video for the only DVD in the world about training children using half court progressive tennis.

Thanks for reading... I'd love to hear your thoughts.. Cheers, Neil

Model based coaching vs. performance/game based coaching

What is model based coaching? Model based coaching is taking one "stroke" (for example the full forehand with back swing, followthrough and all the biomechanics that go with it) and teach that stroke to every level of player. The player is expected to "model" or copy that stroke for every situation. One problem is teaching a full forehand to a novice player often leads to frustration for the player because tennis is an open sport. Diving coaches can teach a model successfully, tennis coaches however... Why is model coaching so prevalent? Model based coaching is easier, coaches have more confidence in what they are saying if they can fit everything into a "box". Check out Part 3 of my discussion with Louis Cayer, one of the top coaches in the world. He goes into detail about some of the differences between Model coaching and Performance/Game Base coaching..

Thanks for reading.. Drop me a line and let me know what you think!

Taylor Dent Advanced Split Step

If you're an intermediate level player looking to the next step in your ability to attack the net effectively, you're going to need to improve your split step. WHAT IS A SPLIT STEP? Why: A split step is an important skill for a tennis player. It will improve your ability to be prepared for your opponents shot and will allow you to change direction quickly will balance. How: With your legs at an athletic height, push off from the ground from the balls of your feet. Both feet should push off together, you won't need to come off the ground more than a few inches. When: The timing of your split step is crucial. Right before your opponent is about to hit their ball. As you do the split step, your body is weightless, when you see what direction the ball is going it's easier to move your body quickly in different directions as you touch the ground. My tennis tip for the day: improve your split step to take your game to the next level. Watch this clip in slo-mo of Taylor Dent's Selective split step.

Louis Cayer Interview Part 2

Can top pros still change their technique? Louis Cayer tells us if it's possible. Plus Louis discusses "Timing & Feeling" and it how it differs from model based coaching. Louis has trained doubles teams ranked #1 in the world including the current #1 Daniel Nestor as well as a doubles gold medal for Canada. Check out his DVD on training doubles, it's the best on the planet.

The Backhand Hitting Zone of Marcos Baghdatis

The Baghdatis two-handed backhand is sweet. I watched him come out of cross court exchanges by hitting nasty down the line backhands giving his opponents major problems. Check out the length of Marcos' backhand hitting zone. A hitting zone is the distance your strings travel towards the target. The hitting zone is a fundamental every player learning the game must have in order to control the height and direction of the ball. My tennis tip of the day: a laid back wrist is the first building block of a long hitting zone.
Thanks for reading...