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 The Benefits of Certification 
6 Advantages that Make a Big Difference
 
COACH JEFF
Tennis Instructor
781-572-1898

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National certification of Tennis Instructors and Tennis Coaches by either of the two certifying bodies, the PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) or the USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association), guarantees a minimum standard universally acknowledged as being among the most effective methods of teaching sound tennis technique and delivering high quality tennis lessons.
 
Both the PTR and USPTA have been certifying Tennis Instructors for 30-35 years, with the PTR leaning more heavily towards tennis technique and the USPTA leaning more heavily towards tennis business administration. At present, there are roughly 24,000 members across America evenly divided between the two organizations.
 
Both bodies preach sound tennis methodology and offer training in technique, instructional books and videos, yearly symposiums, as well as frequent local educational workshops. Also offered frequently is local certification testing which allows Tennis Coaches to test and re-test often in order to elevate their tennis teaching status.
 
Basically, there are three levels of certification: Presented in ascending order, they are Associate Tennis Instructor, Tennis Instructor, and Tennis Professional.
 
Over and above these levels, superior Tennis Instructors increase their breadth of knowledge and broaden their tennis coaching skills by attending additional workshops, and by studying privately to gain an even greater understanding and depth of proper tennis technique.

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Tennis Instructors further differentiate and elevate themselves by injecting their own personality and style, by counseling students in the areas of Singles & Doubles play, positioning, strategy, and tactics, as well as by developing a repertoire of interesting and fun drills.
 
However, please be aware that not all members of the PTR or USPTA have taken their test.
 
Indeed, passing the difficult 5-part certification test, which takes several hours, involves rigorous training, actual tennis teaching experience and, in some cases, months of intense study. The test is so difficult, in fact, that roughly 20% of all members are vastly overwhelmed, and either never take the test (even though it’s free with PTR membership) or take the test and fail, often repeatedly.
 
Even more alarming is the fact that only a small percentage of Tennis Instructors nationwide are certified at all. So, please be careful: There are many imposters masquerading as self-proclaimed Tennis Coaches who have reasonably good tennis form, but little or no formal training or experience in tennis instruction. As the saying goes: You get what you pay for.
 
In sharp contrast, nationally Certified Tennis Instructors guarantee students the following important benefits:
 
The 6 Benefits of Taking Lessons from a
CERTIFIED TENNIS INSTRUCTOR
 
1. THE STANDARD METHOD – Certified Tennis Instructors adhere to proven, basic, standardized tennis technique involving standard steps, progressions, grips, and footwork, as well as positioning and movement of the Instructor and students during the tennis lesson. Superior Instructors are also adept at varying the Standard Method slightly, by adding more depth, to accommodate each student’s individual level, age, and degree of coordination.
 
2. PROGRESSIVE TEACHING METHOD – This teaching method involves breaking down complex stroke technique into a simple progression of easy-to-learn steps where the next step is introduced only when the student has assimilated each of the preceding steps. During tennis lessons, it’s very important to keep students success-oriented, motivated, and avoid overwhelming them by giving them too many steps to learn at one time. Generally, one step at a time is enough, and certified Tennis Teachers know when it’s the best time to introduce the next step during tennis lessons.
 
3. PROGRESSIVE LENGTH METHOD – Rapid results are best produced by positioning younger children and adult beginners closer to the net, progressively moving them backwards towards the baseline. Savvy Instructors know when a student has achieved enough success at their previous location to warrant moving the student back.
 
4. COMPETENT HITTING SKILLS – Certified Instructors pass a demanding hitting test that includes the following 22 shots: (1) FH topspin groundstroke, (2) FH sliced approach, (3) FH volley, (4) FH half-volley, (5) FH sliced lob, (6) FH topspin lob, (7) FH drop shot, and (8) FH rally; (9) BH topspin groundstroke, (10) BH sliced approach, (11) BH volley, (12) BH half-volley, (13) BH sliced lob, (14) BH topspin lob, (15) BH drop shot, (16) BH rally, and (17) Two-handed BH; (18) Flat serve, (19) Sliced serve, (20) Topspin serve; (21) Overhead, and (22) Volley rally.
 
5. SUPERIOR ERROR DETECTION & CORRECTION SKILLS – Certified Instructors excel at improving a student’s technique because every instructor has passed a demanding test involving quickly detecting, diagnosing, and correcting an ever-changing group of 18 technical errors.
 
6. SUPERIOR BALL-FEEDING SKILLS – Many Instructors are adept at feeding tennis balls one at a time to students. Certified instructors, however, are also adept at "Double-Rhythm Ball-Feeding" which involves feeding balls more quickly and more often, providing even greater activity and fun during the tennis lesson.
  CALL JEFF  *  781-572-1898  *  TENNIS COACH