The Global Professional Tennis Coach Association (GPTCA) is bringing its ATP-recognised C-License course to the region for the first time, with the inaugural program to take place at Al Wasl Club, Dubai this weekend.
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Tennis coaches from all over the Middle East and beyond – with participants from Saudi Arabia, Canada, Germany, Singpaore and India – will take part in the course from Friday to Sunday.
Formed in 2010 by 49 tour-level coaches in New York, the GPTCA is now the governing body for professional tennis coaches, in partnership with the ATP World Tour.
The objective is to raise the standards of tennis coaching around the world by gathering all coaches under one umbrella, providing ongoing education, networks and sharing of experiences.
Currently the GPTCA board, headed by Alberto Castellani, Toni Nadal, Dirk Hordorff and Rainer Schuettler, certifies tennis coaches on 'A', 'B' and 'C' levels and is represented in 41 countries through national presidents.
Its goal is to register and certify 10,000 coaches worldwide within five years.
The general programs include lectures and demonstrations, as well as on-court sessions and guest speakers from the ATP.
Some of the topics covered include:
– History of ATP and ITF rules and regulations,
– ATP/ITF competitions
– Coaching of performance-level players
– Technical planning and scheduling for performance-level/ transitional players
– Managing and marketing of tennis players
– State of the professional game
– Determining a player's game and coaching style
– Mental training for performance-level juniors
For more information visit www.gptcatennis.org; The course fee is Dh1200 plus Dh500 for annual membership fee.