The aims of the ITF Coach Education Programme are to help National Associations create their own coaches education programme so that they can become self-sufficient in this area as well as to improve the level of tennis coaching throughout the world.
To achieve these aims, the ITF has numerous resources which can be accessed by Nation Associations and coaches, and which are summarised below:
To receive ITF assistance, National Associations must have a 5-year plan in place. For further information on this, please click here.
Courses
Each year, on average 75 countries worldwide participate in the ITF Coach Education programme by organising a course for their coaches. The ITF can assist with the training of coaches through a variety of formats, but in general, the ITF provides the syllabi for use by member nations who do not currently have a system of certifying coaches, a qualified expert to conduct the course and the necessary course manuals.
The recommended syllabi listed above (which are available in English, French and Spanish) have been compiled with the assistance of the ITF Coaches Commission and Coaching Departments of some of the world’s most successful tennis nations. The quality of these syllabi is demonstrated by the fact that they are currently being used by more than 120 ITF member nations. These ready-made syllabi make it easier for National Associations to introduce their own system of coach education.
Following completion of the course, candidates are assessed to determine whether they have reached the required standard. Those candidates who pass are then certified by their own National Association and the qualification may also be recognised by the appropriate Regional Association.
Conferences
Regional Coaches Conferences by BNP Paribas
Regional Coaches Conferences are held every two years in Asia, South America, Central America/Caribbean and Africa, while in Europe the event is held on an annual basis. These are major conferences involving top level international speakers and are designed to provide a forum on coaches education for the top coaches of specific regions.
Worldwide Coaches Conference by BNP Paribas
This biennial showpiece of the ITF Coach Education Programme brings together the world’s top coaches from over 80 nations and focuses on high-level player development with presentations on the most up-to-date sport science and medical information and practical on-court coaching.
Olympic Solidarity
Since the reintroduction of tennis into the Olympic family at Seoul in 1988, tennis has benefited considerably from funding for projects through the Olympic Solidarity Programmes.
These programmes, which are available to all sports that form part of the Olympics, operate through the National Olympic Committees and Regional Olympic Committees as appropriate, and are funded from part of the profits generated by the Olympic Games.
Olympic Solidarity has sent to all National Olympic Committees information (in English, French and Spanish) on the various programmes (for players, coaches and administrators) and funding available for the period 2009 - 2012.
There are three programmes which relate to coaching, as follows:
1. Technical Courses for Coaches
2. Olympic Scholarships for Coaches
3. National Sports Structure Development
In order to benefit from Olympic Solidarity funding, it is important for National Associations to continue to build and maintain good relations with their National Olympic Committees and that they discuss with them on a regular basis the possibility of tennis benefiting from some of the above mentioned programmes.
Please click on the PDF document below for a downloadable ITF Coaches Education Programme brochure, available in English, Spanish and French.