The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), with support from SkillsActive, is spearheading a Coaching Apprenticeship scheme, offering young people the opportunity to develop a successful coaching career in tennis.
The apprenticeships are funded by The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and form part of a wider initiative to keep a greater number of 16-year-olds in training and employment.
The new Coaching Apprentice Scheme offers apprentices aged 16 to 24 the opportunity to learn new skills, earn whilst they learn and most importantly be mentored by the most experienced coaches which will have major long term benefits for tennis.
Apprentices work locally at approved tennis centres and gain qualifications that provide a pathway to working as a professional licensed tennis coach. With the help of government funding, the scheme has started as a pilot from January to July 2010 with 40 places available nationwide and a further intake anticipated in August 2010. The programme will be delivered through the LTA's network of High Performance and Satellite Centres.
With further support from Sports Coach UK and Sport England, the scheme is encouraging apprentices to develop links and build pathways to remain in the sport.
Apprentices between the ages of 16 to 18 will receive full funding for the apprenticeship and those aged between 19 to 24 receive funding for fifty percent of the apprenticeship.
The LTA Coach Qualification incorporates the NVQ Level 2 in Coaching, Teaching and Instructing Tennis, a UKCC Level 2 Coaching Assistants Qualification and a certificate in Industry Organisation Awareness. It also provides the opportunity for the students to gain key skills in English and Maths at GCSE level, thus providing a package of qualifications.
Jane Bowen, LTA Coach Education Manager said: "The Coaching Apprenticeship compliments the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE), which is already being offered by the LTA and ensures that all young people aged 16 plus have opportunities to develop within tennis and to pursue a career within the industry."
Roger Draper, Chief Executive of the LTA added: "The addition of Coaching Apprentices to our education programme demonstrates our commitment to growing the game in all areas. This will no doubt strengthen the future workforce of British Tennis."
Stephen Studd, Chief Executive of sector skills council, SkillsActive, says:
"SkillsActive is delighted that the LTA is now engaged with the delivery of coaching apprenticeships. Having worked closely with them over the last 18 months, it is fantastic to see that potential recruits to the tennis industry and those already in employment in tennis environments will now have the opportunity to benefit from this programme.
Research suggests that only half of UK coaches hold an up-to-date coaching qualification, so we'd like to see more national governing bodies of sport investing in apprenticeships and the skills of their workforce."
Iain Wright, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for 14-19 Reform and Apprenticeships, said:
"Apprenticeships are an excellent route for young people to enter the workplace and higher education. Apprenticeships are an important path through which to build the national skills base and a fantastic way for young people to progress in the workplace.
Tennis coaching Apprenticeships offer a great way for young people to develop new skills, gain the benefit of working with LTA accredited professionals and improve their career prospects in a profession they love."
The coaching apprenticeships will complement the existing Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellent (AASE) scheme which has recruited over 350 athletes since 2007. The programme has an 81% success rate and 94% retention level which highlight the growing number of people staying in the sport. On this basis thanks to a strong educational offering from the LTA, tennis is one of the leading sports in this area.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), with support from SkillsActive, is spearheading a Coaching Apprenticeship scheme, offering young people the opportunity to develop a successful coaching career in tennis.
The apprenticeships are funded by The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and form part of a wider initiative to keep a greater number of 16-year-olds in training and employment.
The new Coaching Apprentice Scheme offers apprentices aged 16 to 24 the opportunity to learn new skills, earn whilst they learn and most importantly be mentored by the most experienced coaches which will have major long term benefits for tennis.
Apprentices work locally at approved tennis centres and gain qualifications that provide a pathway to working as a professional licensed tennis coach. With the help of government funding, the scheme has started as a pilot from January to July 2010 with 40 places available nationwide and a further intake anticipated in August 2010. The programme will be delivered through the LTA's network of High Performance and Satellite Centres.
With further support from Sports Coach UK and Sport England, the scheme is encouraging apprentices to develop links and build pathways to remain in the sport.
Apprentices between the ages of 16 to 18 will receive full funding for the apprenticeship and those aged between 19 to 24 receive funding for fifty percent of the apprenticeship.
The LTA Coach Qualification incorporates the NVQ Level 2 in Coaching, Teaching and Instructing Tennis, a UKCC Level 2 Coaching Assistants Qualification and a certificate in Industry Organisation Awareness. It also provides the opportunity for the students to gain key skills in English and Maths at GCSE level, thus providing a package of qualifications.
Jane Bowen, LTA Coach Education Manager said: "The Coaching Apprenticeship compliments the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE), which is already being offered by the LTA and ensures that all young people aged 16 plus have opportunities to develop within tennis and to pursue a career within the industry."
Roger Draper, Chief Executive of the LTA added: "The addition of Coaching Apprentices to our education programme demonstrates our commitment to growing the game in all areas. This will no doubt strengthen the future workforce of British Tennis."
Stephen Studd, Chief Executive of sector skills council, SkillsActive, says:
"SkillsActive is delighted that the LTA is now engaged with the delivery of coaching apprenticeships. Having worked closely with them over the last 18 months, it is fantastic to see that potential recruits to the tennis industry and those already in employment in tennis environments will now have the opportunity to benefit from this programme.
Research suggests that only half of UK coaches hold an up-to-date coaching qualification, so we'd like to see more national governing bodies of sport investing in apprenticeships and the skills of their workforce."
Iain Wright, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for 14-19 Reform and Apprenticeships, said:
"Apprenticeships are an excellent route for young people to enter the workplace and higher education. Apprenticeships are an important path through which to build the national skills base and a fantastic way for young people to progress in the workplace.
Tennis coaching Apprenticeships offer a great way for young people to develop new skills, gain the benefit of working with LTA accredited professionals and improve their career prospects in a profession they love."
The coaching apprenticeships will complement the existing Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellent (AASE) scheme which has recruited over 350 athletes since 2007. The programme has an 81% success rate and 94% retention level which highlight the growing number of people staying in the sport. On this basis thanks to a strong educational offering from the LTA, tennis is one of the leading sports in this area. | 
