Dear Member Coaching Programme Overview I am delighted to have been appointed as Head Coach at St Andrews Tennis Club and I look forward to the opportunity to help you all increase your enjoyment of the game and the Club. I am introducing a coaching programme which hopefully will have something for everyone. The objective of the programme is to stimulate and encourage everyone to play to the best standard they can, and to ensure that everyone gets as much enjoyment from the game as they can. The coaching on offer will cater for beginners, intermediate and advanced players, and performance players in all membership classes. For social players, I will be organising Club Night where I will be actively participating and offering tips and advice during weekly doubles play and seeking to add to your enjoyment of your social game. The programme is summarised below: The volume of coaching work requires two full time coaches plus additional resources for Mini Tennis. We are in the process of appointing an assistant coach. The coaching programme elements are described below. Please review them and decide what courses suit you best. If you have any suggestions for improvement, please let me know. Junior and Mini Coaching registration forms have already been despatched. Senior members wishing to participate in the proposed adult group coaching classes should complete the form at the end of the document and email it to martinezskip@btinternet.com, or print it and mail it to Skip Martinez, I look forward to seeing you all at the Club and helping you develop your game. Cheers Skip
Mini Tennis Mini Tennis provides a great introduction to the skills and tactics of the game for youngsters aged 4 9. It focuses on developing agility, balance and co ordination, basic racket skills, rallying skills and tactical awareness in a fun, safe environment. Andy Thompson will continue to run this programme, with assistance from Seth Thompson and Kirsty Stewart. Mini Red Development of basic skills: Movement, ball control, co ordination. Focus on the 3 B s Balls Balance Bat Complex footwork and agility through ladders and balance/co ordination exercises Controlling the ball and rallying in fours from ¾ court Split steps, ready position and appropriate recovery Serving & returning from ¾ court Developing ease and efficiency of swings and appropriate grips Individual and team competition playing the game of Mini Tennis Orange Mini Orange Played with a 21 23 inch racket and low compression orange ball on a ¾ court, this is designed for players moving out of Mini Tennis red level 1 or for beginners aged 7 years or above with limited experience. The course equips players with the necessary skills to play the game of mini tennis orange with internal or external competitors. Mini Green This is designed for 9 12 year olds moving on to a full sized court for the first time. The green ball is used as a final transition tool. Players start on a journey towards competing at a local club level and are encouraged to compete in green events match play competition. Junior The objective of the Junior programme is to build upon the Mini Programme and provide the appropriate coaching and competitive pathway towards competing for the Club at a local club level. Young players will have the opportunity to progress through four levels of training. Participation in the Junior programme will enable young players to become equipped to represent the Club at both junior and low adult team standard since it is designed to develop the skills needed for club competition. Green is for players moving on to the full sized court for the first time (7 11 year olds and overlapping with Mini Tennis Green). Bronze is full court with normal tennis ball (9 12 years old) aimed at developing matchplay Silver is suitable for players aged 10 13 years who are moving forward competitively at club level Gold is for players aged 10 13 years and above who seek regular competitive play both through the club and externally through Tennis Scotland events.
The junior coaching program will be delivered in 10 week blocks after school in the summer, autumn and spring terms. Given the volume and popularity of the programme, it is necessary to have two coaches active at any one time. The coaching will be shared between myself and an assistant. I would expect to alternate between groups in order to monitor performance and player development. Performance The goal of the performance programme is to create a physical and cultural environment in which selected players have the opportunity to become the best they can be. This will begin by targeting mini tennis players (red and orange) for extra support and training in mini future squads. Selected players will then progress to club futures training, club performance and high performance training as illustrated above. In the past, St Andrews has been an LTA accredited High Performance Club and has received funding from Scottish Tennis to support Performance Players. It is my intention to oversee the development of the performance program and then re apply for performance status and associated funding. All performance squads will be established by my invitation only. It is my intention that this portion of the coaching programme would be shared by myself and my assistant in order to ensure that all coaching staff have the opportunity to work with and develop the whole spectrum of talent. Adult Group Coaching The Adult Programme is intended to serve the needs of all adult players whether you are a novice or a keen club team player. Adult Beginners Description: 5 week Coaching Block for maximum of 8 adults Cost: 6 per person Day: Monday (and Tuesday depending on demand) Time: 10.30 11.30 Dates: 1 st Block : 1 st 29 th Sept 2 nd Block: 13 th Oct 10 th Nov 1 st Block : 2nd 30 th Sept 2 nd Block: 14 th Oct 11 th Nov Outline Technical and tactical development to help prepare players for club play Consistency Positioning Hitting to space Effective recovery Developing spins At the end of each five week block there will be an optional tournament to introduce competitive play to those players not playing regular team tennis. The format would be a Round Robin with a final. Description: Cost: Adult Improvers 5 week Coaching Block for maximum of 8 adults 6 per person
Day: Monday (and Tuesday depending on demand) Time: 11.30 12.30 Dates 1 st Block : 1 st 29 th Sept 2 nd Block: 13 th Oct 10 th Nov 1 st Block : 2nd 30 th Sept 2 nd Block: 14 th Oct 11 th Nov Outline Technical and tactical development to help prepare players for club play Consistency Positioning Hitting to space Effective recovery Developing spins At the end of each five week block there will be an optional tournament to introduce competitive play to those players not playing regular team tennis. The format would be a Round Robin with a final. Description: Cost: Day: Time: Dates: Adult Team Players 5 week Coaching Block for maximum of 8 adults 6 per person Monday 7.00 8.00pm 1 st Block : 1 st 29 th Sept 2 nd Block: 13 th Oct 10 th Nov Development of more advanced technical skills Spin Accuracy Increased power Shot combinations Movement patterns Individual Coaching Coaching will continue to be available to further improve the game of individual members from beginners through to advanced players. This will continue to be tailored to suit your individual needs..
Social Tennis & Informal Fun Tournaments Organised Club Night for Social Players Description: This weekly event is to help develop social tennis at the club by catering for those members seeking to play for fun and with other members. Coaching staff will organise and participate in doubles play with all interested members Cost None Day Time: Dates Age: Format: Wednesdays 6.30 7.30pm 1 st Block : 3rd September onwards (weather permitting) Senior Members Doubles Play with coaching Family Fun Tournament Age: Adults & Children Cost 4 for Adults; 1 for Children Time: Saturdays 2pm 4pm to begin following completion of Club Championships Format: Round Robin and a Final A fun afternoon of tennis where adults and juniors combine to battle it out in friendly doubles matches. Entry can be as a pair or individually and have partners appointed.
Autumn Timetable Summary 9.00 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 10.00 11.00 12.00 Adult Beginners Adult Improvers 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 Individual Coaching Junior Group Coaching Adult & Child Tourna ment 18.00 19.00 Mini Tennis Adult Teams Individual Coaching Club Night Individual Coaching Mini Tennis Individual Coaching 20.00 Key Adult Groups Mini Tennis Junior Groups Individuals Social Tennis
Adult Coaching Registration Form Please tick appropriate Boxes and return to Skip Martinez by emailing martinezskip@btconnect.com or mail to Skip Martinez, I would like to participate in the following coaching Class Name Address Telephone Email Home Mobile I would like to participate in the following coaching Class. Class Name Adult Adult Adult Team Beginners Improvers Players Day Mon Tues Mon Tues Mon Only 10.30 11.30 Time 11.30 12.30 7pm 8pm Signed Dated