Become a Tennis Coach

There are a few coaching pathways you can choose from! USTA Coaching has a pathway for every type of coach. USTA Coaching introduces personalized learning journeys to help you grow as a coach, no matter your experience level. Whether you’re a parent looking for ways to share tennis with your child or a lifelong tennis professional, each pathway is thoughtfully designed for your specific coaching role and goals, making it easier to track your progress, discover new content, and earn recognition for your development.

Take a look at the options below:  

1. Community Tennis Coach

• A community tennis coach is a coach looking to teach tennis at the grassroots level. Whether you're a parent who wants to help with your child's tennis team, a high school student looking for a summer job or passionate about tennis and want to help out at your local community tennis association, park or National Jr. Tennis & Learning organization, the opportunities are endless!

2. Facility Tennis Coach 

• A facility coach works for a private or public tennis facility, either full or part-time.  Certification is highly recommended. One can pursue certification through USTA Coaching. This certification requires training and testing. Instantly earning the trust and respect of clubs, schools, players, and recreational centers nationwide.

3. School Tennis Coach (Middle/High School)

• A school coach is responsible for developing players' skills through drills and instruction, managing team practices and tournaments, and ensuring good sportsmanship on and off the court. A high school tennis coach takes on a dynamic role that blends tennis expertise, organizational skills, and emotional intelligence. This position demands dedication but offers a highly rewarding experience for those passionate about both tennis and youth development.

4. College Tennis Coach

• A college tennis coach leads and develops a team by providing strategic training, mentorship, and recruitment while fostering athletic and academic success. To learn more about becoming a college tennis coach, please visit ITA Center for Coach Education.

5. Independent Tennis Coach

• An independent tennis coach is a professional tennis instructor who operates their coaching business. 
• The USTA can help you set up a small non-profit business like a Community Tennis Association. Learn more about how to start a CTA by clicking here or emailing Renee Lentz at lentz@ms.usta.com.

6. Cardio Tennis Coach

• Cardio Tennis is a high energy group fitness experience which uses the sport of tennis in a structured games based format to deliver the ultimate, full body, burning aerobic workout.

7. Wheelchair Tennis Coach

• Wheelchair tennis coaching focuses on adapting tennis coaching techniques for players using wheelchairs, emphasizing mobility, chair control, and specific strokes while maintaining core tennis principles.

The USTA has an ongoing commitment to providing a safe and positive environment for all of our players. Any coach working with children or adults is encouraged to be Safe Play Approved. Safe Play empowers the entire tennis community to recognize, prevent, and report misconduct, ensuring a brighter, safer future for our sport. We combine comprehensive education, background screening, and clear policies to implement standards for athlete safety. 

Safe Play Approval will grant you access to the Coaching Curriculum and Online courses.

SAFE PLAY APPROVAL INSTRUCTIONS

USTA Coaching offers trainings and workshops to help you improve your coaching skills. To register for the below trainings, you must complete the following steps:

• Visit USTACoaching.com and sign in using your USTA account information.
• Become a member (Baseline, Rally, Pro, or Pro Plus) based on your coaching needs.
• Become Safe Play Approved.
• Must complete prework for the desired workshop.
• Then you will receive a registration link to register for the workshop.

1. INTRO TO COACHING WORKSHOP:

• This workshop is designed to help coaches organize players of all ages, provide basic coaching in a group setting, and establish an athlete-centered environment. Completion of this workshop is required for: Development Coach Badge. 
  • Upcoming Workshops:
    • Intro to Coaching Workshop @ RiverWinds Golf and Tennis Club (West Deptford, NJ) | 2/21/2026 | 2 - 5:30 p.m.
    • Intro to Coaching Workshop @ Hempfield recCenter (Landisville, PA) | 4/4/2026 | 1 - 4:30 p.m

2. DEVELOPING JUNIOR & ADULT PLAYERS:

• This two-day workshop is designed to help coaches organize, manage and coach beginner to intermediate players of all ages in a group environment building upon the USTA’s ADM framework. Completion of this workshop will fulfill requirements towards: Developing Junior and Adult Players Badge, Professional Coach Certification. 
  • Upcoming Workshops:
    • Developing Junior and Adult Players @ RiverWinds Golf and Tennis Club (West Deptford, NJ) | 3/7&8/2026 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    • Developing Junior and Adult Players @ Hempfield recCenter (Landisville, PA) | 5/9&10/2026 | 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

3. APPLIED COACHING SKILLS (PRIVATE & GROUP) WORKSHOP:

• This badge is designed for beginner and intermediate individual and group lessons focused on building foundational skills and introducing basic strategies. Completion of these workshops will fulfill a core requirement towards: Professional Coach Certification. 
  • Upcoming Workshops:
    • Applied Coaching Skills Private @ RiverWinds Golf and Tennis Club (West Deptford, NJ) | 5/16&17/2026 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    • Applied Coaching Skills Group @ RiverWinds Golf and Tennis Club (West Deptford, NJ) | 7/11&12/2026 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    • Applied Coaching Skills Private @ Hempfield recCenter (Landisville, PA) | 8/8&9/2026 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    • Applied Coaching Skills Group @ Hempfield recCenter (Landisville, PA) | 9/26&27/2026 | 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

ADDITIONAL IN-PERSON TRAININGS: 

CARDIO TENNIS TRAINING:

• Cardio Tennis is a high-energy group fitness experience which uses the sport of tennis in a structured games based format to deliver the ultimate, full body, burning aerobic workout. Register for the Cardio Tennis Training Course, where you will learn best delivery practices, elevate your current delivery and become a better all around coach.
  • Check back in later for new cardio tennis trainings!

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS TRAINING: 

• Interested in getting trained as a wheelchair tennis coach? Attend our coaches training! Reach out to Katie Miness at katie.miness@ms.usta.com if you have any questions.
  • Check back in later!   

BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED (BVI) TENNIS TRAINING: 

• BVI Tennis is an inclusive sport adapted for people with visual impairments, making tennis accessible and competitive. USTA Middle States hosts trains that show you hands-on instruction, coaching techniques, and strategies to make tennis more inclusive for all.
  
  • Trainings coming soon! 

There are so many ways to continue improving your coaching skills! Take a look at all the resources available to you as a coach: 

1. Online Courses for Coaches:

• USTA Coaching: Your coaching journey starts here. With USTA Coaching's comprehensive course library launching in Fall 2025, we’re designing everything to support your coaching development with a brand new learning management system (LMS).

2. Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA): 

• USTA Middle States partnered with Positive Coaching Alliance to bring training and resources to tennis players, tennis parents, and tennis coaches of any level to learn how to create positive, character-building sports experiences. Through the partnership, USTA Middle States will make available live, FREE virtual workshop sessions throughout the year led by PCA’s experts.