Tennis in Surrey Magazine 2016
Magazine published by Tennis Surrey showcasing 2016.
Magazine published by Tennis Surrey showcasing 2016.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
people<br />
Coach Profile: Luke Mulvihill<br />
and Disability <strong>Tennis</strong><br />
How I started out my coach’s<br />
journey<br />
I started out coach<strong>in</strong>g as an<br />
assistant at my local tennis facility<br />
(Sutton <strong>Tennis</strong> Academy), I really<br />
enjoyed the atmosphere of be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>volved with many coaches and<br />
participants. After I had assisted<br />
for a couple of months I then<br />
became <strong>in</strong>volved with the LTA<br />
apprenticeship scheme allow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
me to complete my Level 3 award<br />
<strong>in</strong> coach<strong>in</strong>g. After complet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the 2-year scheme I felt I had<br />
ga<strong>in</strong>ed the confidence to take on<br />
more responsibilities and was<br />
fortunately given more lead coach<br />
opportunities rang<strong>in</strong>g from club<br />
to performance sessions.<br />
How I got <strong>in</strong>volved with<br />
disability tennis<br />
I became <strong>in</strong>volved with disability<br />
tennis through Sutton <strong>Tennis</strong><br />
Academy who had already started<br />
a Learn<strong>in</strong>g Disability <strong>Tennis</strong><br />
session on every Saturday. I was<br />
asked to cover the session on a<br />
particular week as the coach was<br />
away. At that time it was the only<br />
area of coach<strong>in</strong>g I had not touched<br />
upon, but from the moment I<br />
started coach<strong>in</strong>g the session to<br />
when I had picked up the last bit<br />
of equipment at the end, I had<br />
thoroughly enjoyed everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
about it. I knew from that po<strong>in</strong>t it<br />
was def<strong>in</strong>itely not go<strong>in</strong>g to be the<br />
last time I would coach that class.<br />
The progressions I have made<br />
as a coach<br />
From f<strong>in</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>g my Level 3<br />
Apprenticeship Award to now,<br />
the difference I have noticed <strong>in</strong><br />
myself is huge. My confidence<br />
and knowledge has grown due to<br />
surround<strong>in</strong>g myself with great<br />
coaches and my passion for the<br />
sport. I am currently coach<strong>in</strong>g<br />
around 200 tennis players a<br />
week rang<strong>in</strong>g from m<strong>in</strong>i red<br />
to wheelchair tennis players. I<br />
have been presented with many<br />
opportunities <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g runn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
both wheelchair and visually<br />
Impaired tennis sessions at the<br />
National <strong>Tennis</strong> Centre.<br />
What I am currently do<strong>in</strong>g<br />
at Sutton<br />
My role at Sutton is Head Disability<br />
<strong>Tennis</strong> Coach and I am now<br />
runn<strong>in</strong>g the programme as my<br />
own. When I started runn<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
programme, only 3 sessions were<br />
available per week: We now have<br />
8 sessions runn<strong>in</strong>g each week. I<br />
have made this a priority of m<strong>in</strong>e<br />
so that Sutton can become more<br />
versatile and accommodate more<br />
participants throughout the week.<br />
Sessions I have opened up<br />
at Sutton<br />
Throughout the past few years I<br />
have opened a number of sessions<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g 3 more wheelchair<br />
sessions and a visually impaired<br />
tennis session.<br />
14 tennis <strong>in</strong> surrey <strong>2016</strong> facebook.com/<strong>Tennis</strong><strong>Surrey</strong> www.tennissurrey.org.uk
Change language