Finding the Perfect Tennis Coach in Southern
California: What Beginners Should Look For

Whether you are an adult looking to pick up a tennis racquet for the first time, the parent of a young child who is interested in the game, or a returning tennis player eager to get back on court  to play the sport of kings, one of the biggest early challenges will be to find a good tennis coach to help teach or re-polish your skills. A great coach is essential for any prospective tennis player. They not only teach the fundamentals and fine-tune your technique but also help motivate you to improve, succeed, and reach your potential.

However, finding a coach that is the right fit for you and your game can be challenging and even overwhelming. That’s why I’m here—to help guide you through what to look for when choosing a tennis coach near you who is right for you or your child.

What Makes a Great Tennis Coach?

There are many aspects that make up a great tennis coach. Motivational skills and the ability to give constructive feedback are both capabilities that one should look for when choosing a coach. Yet, one of the most important traits that a coach should possess and one that new players or the parents of new players should look for is the ability to adapt to the personality and skill level of the player they’re coaching.

As Dianne Matias the Director of Junior Tennis at USTA Southern California eloquently put it, what is crucial is “finding a coach who is able to work with diverse player personalities and tailor their communication style and teaching approach on how each athlete learns best.” Each player has their own personality and needs. Sometimes a talented player may need their ego soothed or a hard worker may need some tough encouragement to motivate them. A truly great coach is one who is able to be objective enough to discover what inspires the player that they are coaching and then uses that to push them to greater heights. 

Another trait which makes a great tennis coach is the ability to to lead by example. Many beginning players, especially younger children sometimes need to see that the things they’re being asked to accomplish are possible. USTA SoCal’s Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Manager Jason Cook noted that leading by example helps foster a “level of respect” from a player to the coach. This causes a player to feel more assured that a coach knows what they are doing and can truly teach and assist them in improving their own performance. I can speak from experience that as a young tennis player watching my own coach hit a rocket serve down the line of a tennis court helped inspire me to improve my own game. 

Finally, one crucial trait that a great coach needs is patience. Many beginning tennis players, whether they be young or old, will struggle with the game at first. Even for returnee players it may take awhile for them to regain their old skill level. I can personally attest to this as I myself didn’t play tennis for a period of time following high school and when I returned to the court it took quite a bit of time for me to reach my old level of play. Either learning tennis for the first time or relearning your old skills can be an arduous process which can cause much frustration for a tennis player. This is why patience is so important for a coach. Sometimes a player can get frustrated about their perceived lack of improvement and lash out. During these times coaches must be patient and attempt to calm their player, hopefully redirecting that frustration productively into self-improvement.

How to Find a Tennis Coach in Southern California

There are many different ways that one can try and find a good tennis coach. USTA SoCal for instance has many registered Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) located throughout the Southern California region. CTAs are nonprofit, volunteer-based organizations that support or provide tennis programming with the intent of providing ideal entry points for beginner tennis players. The USTA website also has a coach search engine which allows anyone to find a certified registered coach by their city, state, and zip code. This search engine will inform you of the coach’s primary tennis facility, their skill set, specialities, level of players they coach, as well as their affiliated coaching school/clinic.

Another viable method especially if you’re a returning player would be to go down to your local Southern California tennis center and ask about potential tennis coaches. There are coaches for all ages and skill levels in Southern California and by using USTA SoCal resources one can find a coach that can suit them and their needs.

What to Look For: Age, Level, Goals

It is important when looking for a coach to choose one that fits you or your child’s age, skill level, and goals. Some coaches are better at training players of a certain skill level than others, some coaches are better at teaching young children, and some are better at teaching adults. The point is that each coach has their own teaching specialities, for instance some coaches are really good at teaching beginners how to play tennis while another could excel at coaching players for tournaments.

For adults and returning players the important thing is to find a coach who can match your skill level and help motivate you to improve. As Coach Cook stressed, when it comes to younger children who are just starting to play tennis it is important to find a coach who can teach them the basics of tennis and even more importantly help nurture a love for the sport. Then if a child loves playing tennis, continues to excel and wants to move on to the next level the best thing may be to switch to a coach who specializes in more competitive, tournament play. 

SafePlay-Certified Coaches in SoCal

The USTA SafePlay Program is designed to protect athletes and promote a safe, positive environment in tennis. This comprehensive program includes three essential steps:

1) Personal Information

2) SafeSport training and acknowledgement of SafePlay policies

3) A criminal background check 

SafePlay training and certification is important as it provides coaches and USTA employees with training in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment, physical/emotional abuse or any other form of misconduct. When choosing a tennis coach make sure they are SafePlay certified so that you can feel confident and be assured they are committed to creating a safe and supportive experience, providing a positive and secure learning environment for tennis players of all ages. 

To find a SafePlay-approved coach near you, visit USTA Southern California.

To search the USTA Safe Play Approved database, please type either the zip code or facility name. If you have any questions about an individual’s Safe Play Approved status, please email safeplay@usta.com.

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Choosing a tennis coach is an important decision and for many the first step towards achieving your goals on the court. Finding a coach who is the right fit for your particular needs can help you unlock your potential and develop into the player you want to be.