How To Choose The Right Tennis Coach

If you and your child have aspirations of professional tennis, at some point you are going to need to begin lessons with a private coach.

This can seem a daunting and difficult task, particularly if you have no previous tennis experience, but it needn't be. Common sense and an amount of background knowledge should stand you in good stead.

Firstly, be careful when it comes to recommendations. Just because you have heard a particular coach is good, it doesn't mean they are going to be the right fit for your child. Thank anyone for any advice, but keep a clear head. Decide from the outset to meet with a variety of coaches and do so thoroughly, even if you think you've already found the right coach. This is an important decision and it needs to be given the due care and attention it deserves.

When you first go to meet a tennis coach, there are a few “buzz” signs you should watch out for. To begin with, if the potential coach name drops with any kind of frequency, you should be at least prepared to run a mile. Name dropping is often a sign of a coach trying to dazzle a parent in to making a rash decision and can even be used to distract from more important questions. The only time the names of previous players the coach has worked with should come up is when you mention them, asking about their previous experience. The occasional other name drop isn't an issue, but if a potential coach repeatedly uses a variety of names, be very careful – if you are impressed still, it might be worth going home and to Google and checking the authenticity of the claims.

Also during the first meeting, both you and your child need to like – or at least, not dislike – the coach. If you notice on the first meeting they have an irritating habits or an attitude you're not fully comfortable with, it is probably best to avoid them. Should all go well, you and your child will be spending a lot of time in this person's company – so if there are any initial issues, they will only compound over time.

So now it's time to think about what you should look for. The first – and this may seem obvious, but it is crucial – is to make sure your potential coach knows the game inside out. They should not just talk about specific tennis training, but also working on general fitness, health and well-being to achieve the best results. Ask how they would improve your child's stamina, what they would advise them to eat – you'll soon get an idea if the coach has any real knowledge beyond knowing how to hit a ball. This is absolutely essential. For example, the moment current tennis coach Brad Gilbert met world number-four Andy Murray, he suggested Murray gain weight and strength – the results catapulted Murray to his current ranking.

Yet the most important aspect of choosing a tennis coach is also the most difficult to define. It is that “thing”, that shiver down the spine, that sixth sense. When you meet the right coach, chances are, your gut will tell you so. If both you and your child feel good about a coach, then they're the right choice for you, and success should follow.