How to Become a Tennis Teaching Pro
As in any individual sport, tennis has professionals who teach players how to play the game. Also, like any individual sport, there are various levels of teaching pros. Higher level professional players have teachers, or coaches, who may travel with them to all their major tournaments. At the opposite end of the spectrum are young teachers giving group lessons to kiddos who can barely get the ball over the net. They are all part of the profession.
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Instructions
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Develop your own tennis skills as a youngster. A tennis coach need not be a world champion, but he or she must have a reasonable command of all the basic shots. A tennis teaching pro who has at least the skills of a high level club player will go much further than one who does not.
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Find a role model. Ideally, a great teaching pro is someone who has the capacity to help players of all levels of skill and all styles of play. This is an uncommon ability. It is much easier to master one style and limit your teaching to that style.
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Broaden your exposure to different playing and teaching styles even if you have a good role model. Attend teaching clinics. Visit a website like that of the United States Tennis Association for a list of clinics.
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Consider working in a summer tennis camp. In addition to offering an opportunity to watch other coaches and players, this lends itself to networking.
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Become certified by either the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) or the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR). Visit the websites of these organizations to stay apprised of the process of certification.
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Continue to learn about new teaching techniques and theories. Access commercially available video clinics as well as resources from the USPTA and PTR.
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Decide how you want to enter the profession. For example, you can teach at a country club, in a recreational district or as a private instructor. Apply for positions. Use the contacts you have developed through your networking.
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Tips & Warnings
As an example, for certification by the USPTA, a teaching professional must be 16 years of age and demonstrate personal playing ability to teach individuals and groups, recognize stroke errors, correct stroke errors, teach grips--all via exam--and pass a written test.
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Comments
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teachestennis
May 18, 2010
Modern Tennis Methodology Coaches Association is another organization to consider being registered by. They provide a lot better benefits (imo) to their coaches than the other two which I am also a member of. -
pauljhowto
Feb 21, 2010
Five Stars go to "Become a Tennis Teaching Pro." This article gives great ideas for achieving success as a tennis teaching pro. Also, working as a counselor/instructor at a summer tennis camp is good advice, especially for college students looking to pursue a tennis career. Readers could also consider becoming certified by the United States National Tennis Academy (USNTA).
