This document discusses key competencies for coaching adult beginners in tennis. It provides an overview of the Tennis Xpress program, which is a 6-week beginner course that teaches adults basic tennis skills. Coaches working with adult beginners should engage professionally and socially, provide individual attention, encourage self-correction, and maintain a positive learning environment. The document also examines performance standards for coaching adults and how to facilitate group dynamics and communication to engage beginners.

1. Key competencies for working with
adult beginners
Mark Tennant
inspire2coach ltd

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3. ITF TENNIS XPRESS
• Tennis Xpress is the new
ITF programme for
beginner adults
• It launched in late 2012
and is part of the
Tennis…Play and Stay
campaign
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4. THE TENNIS XPRESS MARKET
Primarily for complete beginners but could also suit:
• adults returning to tennis after a long absence
• parents of young tennis players
• older adults who may be less mobile and who may
enjoy playing on a smaller court
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5. TENNIS XPRESS WITHIN COACHES EDUCATION
Tennis Xpress is being included within ITF Coaches
Education courses and resources:
• the 4-day Play Tennis course which is part of the CBI
course
• some nations are now developing resources and
including Tennis Xpress in their qualifications or CPD
programmes (GBR, DEN, IRE)
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6. TENNIS XPRESS
A course which:
• is 6 weeks (9 hours) long which helps beginner adults
to serve, rally and score from the first lesson
• has flexible delivery formats determined by the
federation, organisation, club or coach
• ends with participants able to play a tennis match or
fun competition using an orange or green ball
• teaches the rules and scoring, and how to play singles
and doubles
• signposts participants to follow-on tennis activities
and allows them to integrate into a programme
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7. COACHING COMPETENCIES FOR WORKING
WITH ADULT BEGINNERS
• “Coaching capability involves
competency-demonstrated
capability in a given context
and underpinning
knowledge”
• Some coaches have great
capability for coaching adults
• Some coaches have great
capability for coaching
beginners
• Whether they want to coach
adults is largely determined
by their values
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8. COACHES WHO ARE GREAT WITH ADULTS…..
• engage professionally and socially with adults
• are professional, approachable, organised and show
respect
• include everyone, regardless of ability
• give individual attention
• recognise and encourage use of transferrable skills
where appropriate
• allow and encourage self-correction
• see varied solutions to challenges, limitations and the
way the game is played
• usually enjoy it and want to do it
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9. “THE COACH MAINTAINS A POSITIVE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT”
PERFORMANCE STANDARD: APPLICATION TO BEGINNER ADULTS
Coach creates eye contact, smiles, moves
around the court in a dynamic way, has
open gestures
• The coach builds amicable and effective
relationships with beginner adults
• The coach balances instructions to
individuals and the group with allowing
players to play without constant
interruption
Coach interacts with the whole group
equally and is encouraging players verbally
and non-verbally
• The coach uses language, terminology
and tone appropriate to adults
• The coach encourages adults by
providing appropriate and constructive
feedback and encouragement
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10. “THE COACH FACILITATES GROUP DYNAMICS TO MAINTAIN
ENGAGEMENT OF ALL PARTICIPANTS AND ENSURES
INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ENJOYMENT”
PERFORMANCE STANDARD: APPLICATION TO BEGINNER ADULTS
Level of activity difficulty matches players’
ability to ensure continual success of all
players
• The coach uses balls and other
equipment effectively to progress or
regress activities
• The coach balances instruction with
opportunities to play and interact with
others in the group
Coach ensures that all players play with
one another, and if necessary with the
coach.
• The coach ensures that all adults are
introduced to each other, and that they
are encouraged to mix during and after
the lesson
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11. “THE COACH APPLIES ENGAGING COMMUNICATION AND
PRESENTATION SKILLS SUITED TO THE LEARNING NEEDS OF
BEGINNERS”
PERFORMANCE STANDARD: APPLICATION TO BEGINNER ADULTS
The coach communicates in a caring
manner, with positive body language
• The coach is able to talk socially as well
as professionally with all group
members during the lesson
• The coach recognises differing abilities
and physical, physiological and social
needs within the group and organises
activity accordingly
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