Coaching

Developing junior potential...

~ LTA-Accredited Mini-Tennis Centre

~ LTA National Performance Centre

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Our coaching schedule is based on the school year, with holidays being reserved largely for competitions and team events, with holiday courses for the younger and new players. Most children join West Heath between the ages of 5½ and 8, although we do accommodate ‘late starters’. Coaching normally takes place in groups of up to 6 children per coach.

West Heath is committed to the Mini-Tennis system, and playing in competitions is not an option but an integral part of the programme. A child’s first tournament is usually a ‘Mixed Generations’ event, where he or she plays with a parent, or older sibling. After that there are many opportunities to participate in competitions at the different stages of Mini-Tennis, before graduating to play in ‘normal’ tennis tournaments. From the age of 10 players gain an LTA rating, which introduces them to a wider range of competition experience.

To participate in the Coaching programmes children pay an annual registration fee and a separate fee for each term’s coaching. Centre Membership is available for families who live close to West Heath and wish to make extra use of the facilities - the cost of Centre Membership includes the annual registration fee. Competitions are charged separately for each event, and are open to players both from West Heath and from other clubs and centres.

From 5½ to 9 our children progress through the different stages of Mini-Tennis. They begin with Mini-Red, which uses a badminton-sized court and sponge balls, and move on to Mini-Orange and Mini-Green, before embarking on full-size tennis.

From 9 onwards most children at West Heath continue in the Development stream, with coaching once or perhaps twice a week, entering competitions and playing for their school. Children who are particularly talented and/or committed join the Performance stream and do at least two squads per week, an individual session, and usually a fitness session. Both Development and Performance children take part in West Heath’s many teams, from Mini-Tennis Red to the Under-18 Junior National Club League.

To check out the latest news on coaching, competitions, half-term and holiday programmes please click on the links at the top of each page. For early news of new events please join our emailing list.