USTA Launches Groundbreaking USTA Coaching
Platform to Support Leaders at Every Level

Coaches are the heartbeat of tennis, especially here in Southern California, where courts stretch from city parks and community centers in the Inland Empire, to private clubs along the Central Coast, to beaches in San Diego, and courts across Los Angeles and Orange County.

For thousands of local players, a tennis coach is often their first connection to the game—from a parent tossing a ball to a child at a park, to high school coaches rallying their teams, to pros guiding athletes toward college or professional play. The lessons learned on these courts echo through communities, inspiring the next generation and helping Southern California remain a national leader in tennis.

A Platform for Every Stage of Coaching

Recognizing the vital role coaches play, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is investing in these leaders with the official launch today of USTA Coaching, a first of its kind national platform designed to support and elevate coaches at every level. This modern all in one pathway is open to anyone who wants to lead on the court and delivers flexible education, national certification, and access to a robust online learning hub launching later this year.

Coaches can also tap into exclusive benefits such as liability insurance, telehealth services, equipment discounts, and connection to a nationwide coaching community, giving them the tools and support to make a lasting impact on players and the sport.

“USTA Coaching is based on a simple truth: Better coaches create better play experiences, and better play experiences grow the game,” said Craig Morris, chief executive officer of USTA Coaching.

He added: “We saw a need to unify the coaching experience, from tennis-seeking parents to full-time pros, and built a platform that makes coaching more accessible, more rewarding and more impactful. It’s also about developing the next generation of coaches and ensuring that players see themselves reflected in the sport. This is about creating better experiences for coaches so they can create better experiences for players.”

Packages for Every Coach

The USTA Coaching platform blends hands-on learning, professional-grade tools, and tiered benefit packages to meet coaches wherever they are in their journey, helping them sharpen skills, expand impact, and stay inspired. A brief online quiz guides coaches to the package that best fits their needs, while all levels remain flexible, allowing participants to select the support that works for their role and experience.

The free Baseline package is perfect for those just stepping into a coaching role, whether parents, teachers, or volunteers helping at practice, leading a gym class, or supporting a child’s first time on court. It provides beginner friendly drills, coaching plans delivered straight to their inbox, and access to local events, giving new coaches the tools they need to guide players while passing down values, celebrating milestones, and building a lifelong bond through the game.

The Rally package is designed for high school coaches and community instructors balancing teaching with other responsibilities. It provides premium educational content, mentorship, Coach Developer office hours, and tools like TennisDrills.TV, helping coaches lead with confidence from pre-season tryouts to post-match pep talks.

For part-time and full-time professionals, the Pro and Pro Plus packages provide advanced support for coaches building careers in clubs, academies, parks, recreation programs, and public facilities. These packages include national certification, continuing education, insurance coverage, and discounts on equipment and technology. Pro Plus adds additional facility coverage, accident insurance, and telehealth benefits, giving full time coaches peace of mind as they lead every day.

Safety and Integrity 

Safety is central to USTA Coaching. All participants complete the Safe Play program, which includes SafeSport training and a background screen, both covered by the USTA. This ensures every player experiences a secure and supportive environment. Regardless of their chosen package, coaches reinforce professional integrity, gaining the tools to recognize and prevent misconduct and create a respectful environment for every athlete.

“As someone who has dedicated my career to growing tennis in Southern California, and having been a junior player, competed on the professional tour, and coached at both collegiate and club levels, I’ve seen how a strong coach can transform a player’s experience on and off the court,” said Trevor Kronemann, Executive Director of USTA Southern California. “Coaches are often the first to introduce kids and new players to the sport, and the right guidance can set them on a path for lifelong enjoyment and success. USTA Coaching gives coaches the tools, support, and confidence to lead effectively, helping more people share the game and grow tennis across Southern California and beyond.”

Today, more than 29,500 coaches nationwide, from professional instructors to community-level leaders, have completed Safe Play compliance by undergoing background screenings and SafeSport training, with an additional 23,000 having completed Safe Play education.

This demonstrates the USTA’s ongoing commitment to protecting athletes and fostering a supportive, safe tennis environment. Parents and players can also search the USTA’s online database to connect with trusted, Safe Play-compliant coaches in their communities.

Growing Tennis for the Future

USTA Coaching is a cornerstone of the USTA’s 35×35 vision, which aims to grow tennis to 35 million players in the United States by 2035. Tennis participation in the U.S. has already surged to a new all-time high of 25.7 million players in 2024, an increase of 1.9 million from 2023, representing an 8 percent jump in just one year.

Yet only two in ten players nationwide currently receive formal coaching, leaving a significant gap that USTA Coaching is designed to close by making coaching more accessible and inclusive.

More than just a platform, USTA Coaching is a workforce development initiative that modernizes the coaching ecosystem, streamlines access to training, and expands who can provide quality coaching. It empowers parents, teachers, volunteers, and community leaders—the people most often introducing newcomers to tennis—with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed.

By unifying resources under one inclusive pathway, USTA Coaching accelerates participation, strengthens local tennis communities, and builds a diverse, well equipped coaching network.

Quality, Inclusive Education

The program’s education model is coach and athlete centered, based on the USTA American Development Model, adapted from United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) principles, and grounded in the latest sport science and athlete development research. This approach reflects the USTA’s commitment to quality, inclusivity, and long term player growth. It helps coaches sharpen their skills while inspiring lifelong participation in the sport. Participants also gain liability insurance, telehealth, equipment discounts, professional tools, and access to a dynamic peer community, providing the structure, confidence, and connection needed to lead both on and off the court.

“The USTA is a strong National Governing Body, a great partner to the USOPC and an important part of Team USA,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “It’s no surprise that they are leading in coaching innovation, building on a history of success and giving the current and future generations new opportunities to learn and achieve with the launch of USTA Coaching.”

Olympic gold medalist, USTA Coaching ambassador, and Rancho Palos Verdes native Lindsey Davenport echoed that impact: “As a former Grand Slam champion and coach, I’ve seen how the right guidance changes everything. USTA Coaching is here to champion every coach, whether you are leading a lesson or cheering from the sidelines. This platform is going to change how coaches connect with players and how players connect with the game.”

For Southern California Coaches

With one of the country’s largest and most diverse tennis communities, Southern California is home to thousands of coaches who introduce the sport to new players every year. USTA Coaching creates a clear pathway for those leaders, whether they are helping a child take their first swing or preparing an athlete for collegiate or professional play.

Kevin Finkleberg, Manager of Community, Schools, Wheelchair & Adaptive Tennis at USTA Southern California, emphasized the impact for local coaches: “With the launch of USTA Coaching, we can strengthen and sustain our coaching pipeline in SoCal, supporting everyone from new coaches, parents, volunteers, teachers, to those at the highest performance levels. It’s exciting to see this platform supporting coaches at every stage of their journey and uniting them to inspire the growth of tennis for all.”

Local coaches, parents, and volunteers can get started at USTACoaching.com, where a short quiz will help determine the right package. Benefits begin immediately after completing the Safe Play requirements, and new features will roll out in late 2025.

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Learn more about the USTA Coaching initiative on USTA.com.