Dearth of qualified coaches affect tennis standards

Dumisani Ncube | Friday January 16, 2015 11:59

 

Raguin told Mmegi Sport that one of the reasons the standards of tennis are below par is due to qualified coaches leaving the country for greener pastures.

He said this has left the country with few good coaches while the majority is inexperienced.  He said the shortage of quality coaches has to be solved immediately.

Raguin said inviting tennis experts to conduct coaching clinic was a way of solving the challenge.  FTS recently invited former Spanish number two Maria- Jose Llorca Pons to conduct coaching clinics for coaches as well as mentoring junior players. Pons told Mmegi Sport that during her six week coaching clinics she noticed that coaches lacked in tactics and techniques. “I have been teaching them how to structure a class and to develop young players,” she said.  She also advised the government to organise more coaching clinics for the coaches so that they can develop and get the exposure required for a coach.

Raguin said failure to adequately expose players to competitions was also hampering growth.  “We need more game time and club tournaments,” Raguin said.