Glasgow University Tennis Club
GUT Coaching Pathway
The British Lawn Tennis Association encourages university tennis clubs to get involved in tennis coaching within their club and the surrounding area. Glasgow University Tennis Club already has many qualified and accredited coaches, but also provides a pathway for anyone who wishes to become a coach.
A coaching course is an extremely beneficial course to take, and may even led to employment as tennis coach within or out with GUT. Coaching opportunities within GUT are generally available at the start of each academic year.
Read on for a brief introduction to coaching courses, or follow this link for the official British Tennis Coaching Course webpage:
There are 5 Levels of Coaching Qualification within the Lawn Tennis Association, running from Level 1 through to Level 5. All student coaches within GUT are either Level 1 or 2. The Level 1 course takes 3 days to complete (one weekend, and an assessment a month later); the Level 2 takes 5 days (two weekends, a month apart, followed by an assessment a month later). Both of these courses require a level of commitment, and involve providing lessons to certain age groups under the supervision of a mentor.
The Level 1 Coaching Qualification is an introductory coaching qualification, targeted at players of any ability. We recommend any player who is interested in at all in coaching to take the Level 1 course, and see if they are suited. It covers the basic things, and caters towards coaching children 8 and under, hence players of any ability can go on this course.
The Level 2 Coaching Qualification is a secondary coaching course designated for players who already have their Level 1. Although it is designed towards coaching children, it is a sufficient course for people who wish to coach to a high standard, but not as a full-time profession. Most student coaches are Level 2. Playes of any standard can do this course, provided they have completed their Level 1, and other pre-requisites.
Funding:
Coaching courses need not be self-funded ventures. Tennis Scotland can provide 50% of the cost of the coaching course, provided certain criteria are met. Glasgow University Tennis Club is also given some money by Glasgow University Sports Association to be put towards funding new coaches. This money is available to members who are interested in coaching for GUT in the future. Generally, if GUT decide to fund part of your coaching course, you will be required to assist with in a couple of coaching sessions during or after your course, so as to earn the funding.
To apply for Tennis Scotland funding, talk to Matt Hulbert at the following address:
matthew.hulbert@TennisScotland.org
Enquiries about external funding from GUSA can be made on this email address.
For further enquiries about coaching and course funding from GUT, contact the Club Captains on the following addresses:
captain-womenstennis@gusa.gla.ac.uk
captain-menstennis@gusa.gla.ac.uk
Coach Mentoring
Both Level 1 and Level 2 Coaching Courses require students to gain experience coaching in external tennis clubs: four hours of experience for the Level 1 course; eight hours of experience for the Level 2 course. This experience includes getting mentored by a more qualified coach, who must provide some feedback on your lessons.
Generally, the LTA require coaching mentors to be Level 3 or above-level qualified coaches. Glasgow University Tennis Club has no students with the Level 3 coaching qualification, so we don’t have the capacity to provide mentors for members participating in coaching qualifications (certainly not for Level 2). We therefore recommend that you do your coaching experience and find a mentor out with GUT, in one of the external clubs in the Glasgow. There are many clubs in the West End and beyond that could facilitate you; see the list below. Many qualified coaches in GUT have undergone coaching experience at clubs in the West End, and gone on to work as a coach for these clubs: Radi for Westerton TC, Dave and Ethan for Western LT&SC. Who are all previous members of the club.