There are two things every tennis coach needs: a love for the game and excellent communication skills. Coaching is a rewarding experience, allowing you to pass on the game to the next great players by helping them develop the skills they need to succeed. As a coach, you're the constant motivator, assisting the player in growth on and off the court.

A tennis coach can work at a school, commercial club, recreational center, or country club, instructing children, teenagers, and adults in individual and group settings. A great coach will help their players reach heights they didn't think were possible, while instilling confidence, a positive attitude, and a love for the game.

USTA Coach Development Framework

The USTA Coach Development Framework offers various learning opportunities for coaches to develop their knowledge and skills, and over time acquire coaching mastery across various Tennis Coaching Contexts including Youth, Adult, Performance and Tennis Management.

School
Community
USTA Level 1
PTR Certification Pathway

PE Teacher and Middle/ High School Team Coach

Teach a tennis unit in Physical Education or coach a Middle/High School team.

Access to a variety of courses, trainings, and workshop information will soon be available with our new Coach Learning Center.

Continue your School Training

Start your School Training

Teach Tennis In School

In partnership with SHAPE America, the USTA offers resources, training, workshops and tools to help teach tennis in schools, designed specifically for the Physical Education environment. Bringing tennis to your school is now easier than ever.

Participate in our School Workshop – a three-hour, in-person training that is designed to help physical education teachers, parents, and coaches become comfortable introducing students to the lifelong sport of tennis in both traditional and non-traditional spaces

The School Workshop utilizes modified equipment to create a positive learning environment and covers the following topics:

Class management techniques

Tennis skills for K-12, with suggestions on how to modify activities

Appropriate tennis games for large groups for K – 12

Safety

Sportsmanship

Learn how to organize and deliver a tennis lesson/unit following the Net Generation K-12 physical education tennis curricula, co-created with SHAPE America

Receive a certificate of attendance to be utilized for CEUs upon finishing the workshop

Through Training and Webinars, learn how to introduce tennis in PE classes, connect with out-of-school community programs, and get support for your school tennis team

Follow standards-based, turnkey lesson plans

Attend an in-person or virtual training course designed to show how tennis instruction can be adapted in the Physical Education environment

Find more information on tennis in schools.

Become a Middle/ High School Team Coach

Guide your team using best-in-class resources through pre-season, in-season, and post-season play.

Complete the School Team Course to learn everything you need to know to work with middle and high school players

Utilize the USTA School Team Tennis manual that features step-by-step lesson plans for up to 12 players per court

Organize your season with checklists designed to prepare you and your team for all aspects of team play

Benefit from resources for No-Cut Coaches as they look to maximize participation within their schools

Learn more about our team coach resources.

Community Coach

Manage, organize, or assist appropriate play/practice activites for beginner youth by becoming a community coach or volunteer coach.

Access to a variety of courses, trainings, and workshop information will soon be available with our new Coach Learning Center.

Continue your Community Coach Training

Start your Community Coach Training

Become A Community Coach

Manage or organize appropriate play or practice activities for beginner youth – without any prior coaching experience required.

To facilitate the best delivery of the curricula, several coach workshops are available:

Two-hour coach (red)

Two-hour coach (orange & green)

Three-hour coach (red, orange, green)

Perfect for volunteers and coaches prior to their community practice sessions

Engage more kids by using the Net Generation community programming curricula which include play and practice plans and activity videos

Target beginners to intermediate players ages 5-18 with either red, orange and/ or green program curricula and ability-appropriate equipment. Marketing materials and promotions are available to enhance the quality of the coaching experience

Learn more about becoming a Community Coach.

USTA Level 1 Coach

Coaches who assist programs for beginner to low-intermediate players of all ages.

Access to a variety of courses, trainings, and workshop information will soon be available with our new Coach Learning Center.

Continue your USTA Level 1 Coach Training

Start your USTA Level 1 Coach Training

Become a USTA Level 1 Coach

Provide safe, fun, and organized sessions to teach beginner to low-intermediate level players of all ages.

Participate in the USTA Level 1 Coach workshop. This program combines online and on-court learning to help you build the skills needed to teach beginner to low-intermediate level players of all ages and will help you:

Provide safe and organized sessions
Set up, manage and coach activities within the warm-up, skill and game elements of the lesson
Create an environment that fosters positive tennis experiences, provides opportunities for early success, and develops a lifetime love for the game

For coaches who have completed the USTA Level 1 Coach Workshop and are interested in pursuing certification with the Professional Tennis Register (PTR) the following additional requirements are needed to complete certification:

Join PTR
Complete the session planning document using the provided template guide
Provide a video delivering the coaching session plan with the appropriate athlete/s.

Learn more about a USTA Level 1 Coach workshop offerings near you.

Level 1 Coach

The Level 1 Certification is for Coaches pursuing their first certification, Part-Time Coaches, Young Professionals, and College Players who are working under a program director.

Level 2 Professional

Full-time, certified coaches who work with players of all ages and abilities, delivering both private and group sessions.

Level 3 Specialist

Certified coaches who design and lead programs related to specialty areas.

Level 4 Master

Recognized industry leaders who administer programs in their specialized field of concentration.

Start or continue your path to full certification

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Become a Certified Coach

Benefits of Becoming a Certified Coach

Build your career and grow tennis by getting certified with a USTA-accredited organization, currently the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR)

Receive advanced certification with a clear and definable career pathway and assistance with job placement and apprenticeships that allow you to earn money while learning

Participate in hands-on learning workshops for optimal growth

Access online courses for easy to follow training and continuing education opportunities to continue to enhance your skills and develop new opportunities

Create a safer tennis environment for your players by becoming Safe Play approved at no additional cost

PTR

As a USTA accredited organization, PTR is working to elevate the resources available to coaches pursuing certification, while enhancing the growth and success of your coaching career.

More Opportunities

The USTA supported Professional Tennis Management (PTM) program is a great addition to a four-year bachelor’s degree, masters, or certificate program. Students can focus in areas like hospitality, sports management, and exercise science to add value to their degree and open up career options in tennis in facility management, technology, marketing, and business. Sign-up to receive more information on the colleges that offer PTM programs.

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