Ballycastle Tennis Club Coaching Policy
Policy Agreed 15th November 2021
1. Mission Statement:
Ballycastle Tennis Club is committed to providing a family friendly club for tennis players of all ages and abilities, to help them to reach their full potential and to promote and develop wellbeing and fitness within the community.
To achieve this mission Ballycastle Tennis Club will provide a supportive environment, including access to coaching, that fosters the development of individuals of all ages and enables them to set and achieve their sporting goals and most of all enjoy the sport.
2. Club Coaching Structure:
The Club’s coaching policy offers an overview of the coaching arrangements available to all members of the club and in relation to the provision of this coaching, what is expected of the Club’s Committee, the coach and the club members.
For this three way relationship to be successful it is important that all parties understand their rights and responsibilities; this document seeks to clarify these key roles, relationships and responsibilities.
3. Coaching Overview:
Coaching is provided within the club primarily on a ‘group basis’. Group coaching concentrates predominantly on junior members with a comprehensive program progressing them from beginner to advanced player through the Common Integrated Approach pathway. This pathway develops the technical, tactical, physical and psychological tennis skills of a player within the best of his/her ability as well as nurturing interpersonal and competitive skills. Adult group coaching will also be provided. Group coaching is only provided where numbers are sufficient. All coaching is provided by our club coach.
Individual coaching is available to all adults and juniors only by our club coach.
4. Coaching Objectives:
To
5. Responsibilities of the Club Committee:
To the Club Members:
To the Club Coach:
6. Responsibilities of the Club Coach:
The role of the club coach is to ensure the coaching/camp programs within the club are managed effectively with the assistance of the club committee, to ensure that all members, both junior and adult, of all abilities, have an opportunity to improve their game.
To the Club Members:
To the Club Committee
7. Responsibilities of the Club Members:
All members are expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all club rules and policies.
To the Club Committee
To the Club Coach
8. Coaching Accreditation:
Our Club Coach requirements:
9. Coaching Structure
Group Coaching Regulations
Individual Coaching Regulations
10. Unauthorised Coaching
A club coach who is approved by the Ballycastle Tennis Club committee can coach on our club courts. Members are not allowed to hire the services of an unauthorised coach (paid or unpaid) for coaching/lessons on our club courts.
Unauthorised coaching includes
Ball feeding with bucket/basket-
Demonstrating strokes-
Structured lessons-
Verbal coaching-
Hitters (third party and/or paid)
Interactions between close family relatives, such as a parent with a daughter or son, will not be considered to be unauthorised coaching.
11. Breaches of this Coaching Policy
The committee shall have the power to terminate or suspend the membership of any Member or to exclude any member whom it considers to be in breach of this policy.
12. Monitoring and Reviewing of Policy
This policy will be monitored for effectiveness and reviewed annually or as deemed necessary.
Policy Agreed 15th November 2021
1. Mission Statement:
Ballycastle Tennis Club is committed to providing a family friendly club for tennis players of all ages and abilities, to help them to reach their full potential and to promote and develop wellbeing and fitness within the community.
To achieve this mission Ballycastle Tennis Club will provide a supportive environment, including access to coaching, that fosters the development of individuals of all ages and enables them to set and achieve their sporting goals and most of all enjoy the sport.
2. Club Coaching Structure:
The Club’s coaching policy offers an overview of the coaching arrangements available to all members of the club and in relation to the provision of this coaching, what is expected of the Club’s Committee, the coach and the club members.
For this three way relationship to be successful it is important that all parties understand their rights and responsibilities; this document seeks to clarify these key roles, relationships and responsibilities.
3. Coaching Overview:
Coaching is provided within the club primarily on a ‘group basis’. Group coaching concentrates predominantly on junior members with a comprehensive program progressing them from beginner to advanced player through the Common Integrated Approach pathway. This pathway develops the technical, tactical, physical and psychological tennis skills of a player within the best of his/her ability as well as nurturing interpersonal and competitive skills. Adult group coaching will also be provided. Group coaching is only provided where numbers are sufficient. All coaching is provided by our club coach.
Individual coaching is available to all adults and juniors only by our club coach.
4. Coaching Objectives:
To
- develop club members to the best of their ability.
- encourage members to represent the club in various leagues etc.
- promote new membership.
- cultivate club loyalty and cohesion amongst its members.
- nurture a love and enjoyment for tennis.
- give members a sport for life.
5. Responsibilities of the Club Committee:
To the Club Members:
- Ensure that coaching has high prominence in club operations.
- Provide access to a high standard of quality coaching.
- Make available a suitable qualified coach – Tennis Ireland Licensed.
- Ensure that all coaching operates in a professional manner and in line with best practice.
- Ensure that Child protection guidelines are strictly adhered to.
- Ensure that the coach operating in the club holds Public Liability insurance.
To the Club Coach:
- Support and enable him/her to fulfil his/her responsibilities as described in this policy and in the operation of the Common Integrated Approach.
- Liaise as required in respect of all coaching programs including schedules and numbers.
- Address any coaching issues raised at the club committee meetings, unless the issue raised requires a more immediate response.
- Provide suitable facilities to conduct the coaching program in.
- Keep him/her informed of any issues that might impact on the coaching program.
6. Responsibilities of the Club Coach:
The role of the club coach is to ensure the coaching/camp programs within the club are managed effectively with the assistance of the club committee, to ensure that all members, both junior and adult, of all abilities, have an opportunity to improve their game.
To the Club Members:
- Manage a coaching program progressing members from beginner to advanced player- where abilities permit (Common Integrated Approach).
- Ensure all players are given the opportunity to access coaching through advertising forthcoming group coaching and camp programs.
- Implement and manage the junior coaching program, including camps, efficiently.
- Use the appropriate equipment for the different age groups and ability levels.
- Assess and allocate players to the most appropriate coaching group based on their individual ability.
- Keep parents informed as to how their child/children are progressing (verbally) when requested.
- Provide adult group coaching.
- Encourage participation, by all, in league tennis.
- Ensure that all group coaching and camps are run in a professional manner and in line with best practice.
- Ensure Child Protection guidelines are adhered to.
- Ensure that coaching is accessible to all and is inclusive.
- Assist in team selection if requested.
- Promote the club in such a way as to attract new members.
- Nurture a love of the game, fair play and enjoyment.
To the Club Committee
- Alert the Committee to any coaching issues which arise as soon as possible.
- Ensure coaching is always to the highest standards through his/her own continuous development and up-skilling and by holding an up to date Tennis Ireland Licence at all times.
- Ensure that no group/individual coaching or camps occur within the club which have not been approved.
- Attend committee meetings when requested to provide a brief input on coaching issues.
7. Responsibilities of the Club Members:
All members are expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all club rules and policies.
To the Club Committee
- Encourage their children to partake in group coaching and camp programs.
- Facilitate their children’s participation in league tennis and other social events run by the club for juniors.
- Bring any coaching concerns to the club coach.
To the Club Coach
- Support the coach by ensuring their child/children are on time and available to play.
- Assist their children to arrange play (practice) outside coaching hours.
- Inform the coach as soon as possible if a child is unavailable to coach.
- Ensure that young members are promptly dropped off and collected when attending coaching.
8. Coaching Accreditation:
Our Club Coach requirements:
- Firstly, be approved by the Club Committee.
- Hold a minimum Tennis Ireland level one qualification or above.
- Have Public Liability insurance.
- Hold an up to date Child Safeguarding Protection Certificate.
- Hold an up to date Tennis Ireland Licence.
- Hold an up to date Access NI Enhanced Disclosure Certificate with Ulster Branch Tennis Ireland.
- It is the coach’s responsibility to comply with legal requirements associated with being self-employed.
- Provide details of their qualifications when required.
9. Coaching Structure
Group Coaching Regulations
- Group coaching, where the number of participants falls below the minimum number, will only operate at the discretion of the club coach.
- All group coaching and camp programs must be approved by the club coach and the Club Committee.
- No group coaching or camp programs are permitted to start until approval has been given.
- Fees are paid promptly to the club coach for all group coaching and camp programs.
- If there is over subscription for group coaching or camps, it will be filled on a first come first served basis.
- Group coaching and camps will be rescheduled if cancelled due to the weather or illness to the club coach.
- The club coach can reassign a person to another group if it is deemed to be in the best interest of the person
- All fees are paid to the club coach directly at the commencement of coaching.
- Coaching is available to all members and will be advertised within the club house.
Individual Coaching Regulations
- Fees are at the discretion of the club coach.
- Individual adult members must arrange it directly with the coach.
- Payment is made directly to the coach.
- Non-members can be coached by the club coach but there after must become a member of the club to continue individual coaching.
10. Unauthorised Coaching
A club coach who is approved by the Ballycastle Tennis Club committee can coach on our club courts. Members are not allowed to hire the services of an unauthorised coach (paid or unpaid) for coaching/lessons on our club courts.
Unauthorised coaching includes
Ball feeding with bucket/basket-
Demonstrating strokes-
Structured lessons-
Verbal coaching-
Hitters (third party and/or paid)
Interactions between close family relatives, such as a parent with a daughter or son, will not be considered to be unauthorised coaching.
11. Breaches of this Coaching Policy
The committee shall have the power to terminate or suspend the membership of any Member or to exclude any member whom it considers to be in breach of this policy.
12. Monitoring and Reviewing of Policy
This policy will be monitored for effectiveness and reviewed annually or as deemed necessary.