An Introduction to ITF Coaching
The ITF Program and the goal of the coach are two-fold: make an improvement in tennis coaching in every region and to ensure that National Associations and other certification programs are involved.
At this very moment, the National Courses involving coaches are held annually around the world in over 60 countries. The Level 1 and the Level 2 syllabus for coaching is now available to coaches in Spanish, French and English with an aim to encourage these and other nations to present certification system for national coaches. The syllabus is in motion and is currently being used by more than 40 ITF nations and their members.
The ITF is also responsible for organizing the workshop for ITF coaches worldwide. This takes place every couple of years, and since then the event has proved to be a unique forum for all high-level coaches. In South and Central America, Africa and Asia workshops for regional coaches take place twice a year. This provides a very cost effective and important educational opportunity to provide coaches coming from the mentioned regions and have the potential to become better.
The officer at ITF research has produced educational materials in the three main languages they focus on; French, English and Spanish, in order to assist nations that are members of the ITF in the areas of grass roots including development programs. The materials that are available are: The Advanced-Coaches Manual, Tennis Practices, Level One Manual, The STI-Teachers Manual, Mini Tennis: coaching young people and children in tennis. The official publication from ITF, the Coaches Review, is published three times a year in French, Spanish and English.
The objectives are very specific. ITF Coaches-Educational Program is to convene National Courses as required in countries and trying to get contents and experts to adapt to specific characteristics of the countries involved. Moreover, ITF will assist nations that are members to introduce a similar national certification system for coaches by helping them in establishing their very own School for coaches.
In the Worldwide-Coaches Workshop, ITF will enhance the format to meet certain quality demands of coaches that are high level. As per the Regional Workshops, ITF is trying to get local coaches into these shops and also try to adapt topics and the speakers to what is needed by each region. Furthermore, the plan is to make use of the experienced coaches from the different regions of Coach Education programs and to instruct local coaches to carry out Level 1 and the Level 2 courses.
As the time goes on, there will be other educational materials available for the coach education. Quality materials will be included in the Coaches Review and this will improve by growing the level of pre-necessity for publication.
ITF coaching plays a big role in the world of sport. It makes a big difference and that difference is seen by the people who strive to help. Every team, no matter the sport, needs to have a coach on their side to point them in the right direction.