'I WANT TO MAKE IT ON MY OWN': A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A TENNIS COACH

(Getty/Ryan McVay)

A week of torrential rain in Sydney recently gave all tennis coaches time to reflect. It gave some time to catch up on invoicing, racquet restringings and lesson enquiries, while it gave some coaches serious cause to worry about how they will pay their bills.

The First Serve caught up with two coaches at varying ends of the experience spectrum to get an understanding of how the wet weather affected them.

Alex is the owner and manager of his own tennis centre. He manages a team of coaches, manages the finances for the site, takes care of all the administration, and still coaches full time.

The First Serve was curious how much the spate of wet weather has harmed his business.

The First Serve (TFS): "It was a tough week for tennis coaches with the rain. How have you been affected?"

Alex: "If I am being totally honest, it has not affected me personally as much as in previous years. As the owner, I have set up all of our group lessons to run wet or fine. I have access to a hall and a gym, so the red and orange ball classes run as normal in the hall whilst the older kids do a gym session or a chalk and talk."

TFS: "So, if all sessions are running, your coaches must still be working and not losing money?"

Alex: "Yes, we have coaches on a salary, so they are fine. I just need to find something for them to do during the day! They will help in the pro shop,  with restringing and with cleaning before they coach for the afternoon. Some classes will be reduced in numbers as some families will choose to keep the kids at home if they won't be on the court, so this reduces the number of young or casual coaches required for the afternoon. The ones I feel sorry for are the young coaches who are just starting out and are getting paid by the hour. Sometimes they are travelling significant distances for a two-hour shift, which is not ideal, and sometimes they won't have any hours due to a lack of numbers."

TFS: "What happens to those families who choose not to attend?"

Alex: "We base our year on four 10-week terms. If students miss a lesson, they have to make it up within that 10-week period; otherwise, that lesson is gone. This gives the families clear guidelines and provides financial certainty for the centre. We provide a bus service to the local schools, which many families rely on due to work commitments, so we need to ensure the program remains consistent each week." 

TFS: "What about private lessons?"

Alex: "The same rules apply to anyone who has paid for the term in advance. By paying in advance, the client secures their time at a discounted rate, and they have the 10-week term to make up any lessons. This again helps the centre and helps the coach to budget."

TFS: "It sounds like you have about as much stability as you possibly can for a centre. It must have taken some time to get to that point."

Alex: "Yes, lots of time, hard work and patience. I am incredibly lucky as well that I have access to an indoor space, gym and bus service. I am definitely more fortunate than some of my colleagues who, through no fault of their own, struggle when the weather is bad."

TFS: "Can you explain a typical day for you?"

Alex: "Sure. I'll give you today as an example. I opened the doors at 6:30am, set up the pro shop, turned on the coffee machine and gave the centre the once-over. I then did a lesson with a group of school kids from 7-8 and then drove them to school on one of our buses. Then it's back to the centre where I do a restring that needs to be picked up first thing. Usually, I would then do an adult clinic, but as it's raining, I will follow up on some invoices. Then it is returning emails, planning our upcoming tournaments at the centre, updating social media for the centre, reviewing the individual programs of our elite squad students.

"I am also a partner in another centre, so I have a daily phone hook-up with them. Then there is always something on like this interview or interviewing potential staff. Then in the afternoon, I will drive one of the buses and pick up students from the local schools and coach them for the afternoon and then drive them back to school. I will then close up the shop. So, even with a day full of rain and not stepping on the court, I will still be there from 6:30am until at least 6pm. Usually, I will be court until 8 or 9pm, so a couple of early marks is not the worst thing in the world!"

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I walked away from that chat with Alex feeling optimistic that coaching is not solely reliant on blue skies and warm weather. Then, my optimism turned to heartbreak when I spoke to Justin, an 18-year-old who loves tennis and is just beginning his coaching career.

The First Serve caught up with him to learn about his story.

TFS: "Can you talk a bit about yourself?"

Justin: "I grew up on a farm in a small country town and just finished year 12 last year. I have played tennis all my life and absolutely love it. I travelled all around Australia, Asia, Europe and the US and played at an ITF and challenger level.

"Unfortunately, I suffered some setbacks along the way. I have had two shoulder surgeries, have torn the ACL in both knees and have had hip surgery. These injuries then led to depression during my last year of high school. As a result, I had no interest in school or studying, and of course, this led me to flunk my exams. This, in turn, made me even more depressed. I then spent the next few months drinking, which was the worst thing I could have done.

"It was then that my dad gave me a kick up the bum. He said, 'Enough of this feeling sorry for yourself caper. It's time to get back to the real world.' We went through my options, but everything seemed so insignificant when compared to my love of tennis. This passion saw me answer an ad for a junior coach in Sydney, and here I am!"

TFS: "That's quite a journey for one so young. How are you finding Sydney?"

Justin: "I found a place to stay with two others who were older than me. They are a couple and have decided they do not want a flatmate, so I have to move out. With no money behind me, the cost of everything in Sydney, and the wet weather, I am not sure how I will be able to afford a new place."

TFS: "Sorry to hear that. Do you have any guaranteed income?"

Justin: "No, not really. I have a few lessons that are on wet or fine, but sometimes it costs me more to get there than I make. By the time I leave home, travel to the courts, put petrol in the car, pay tolls, do the lesson for minimum wage, there is not much left over. If it rains all week, I invoice for 10 hours, which makes it hard to live off."

TFS: "Are you getting support from your parents?"

Justin: "I did for the first few weeks, but now, I don't. I want to make it on my own. I already harbour guilt from all the money they spent on me as a junior travelling to tournaments only for me to fail." 

TFS: "What is the plan moving forward?"

Justin: "I will put my head down, work hard, save money, find a place to live and come out the other side. I have dealt with a lot already, and I like to think I am resilient, so I will be ok."

TFS: "Would you consider another career?"

Justin: "No. I didn't get the marks needed to get into uni, and I don't want to go back to school. Tennis is my passion, and I am determined to make it work."

TFS: "What about moving to a different tennis centre with more guaranteed hours?"

Justin: "Lots of people tell me that, but the owner here gave me my chance to follow my passion. He is teaching me how to be a good coach and all about the tennis business. He has been loyal to me, so I will be loyal to him."

That was truly hard to listen to, and my heart went out to young Justin. Tennis coaching, like any profession, when you are beginning, has its challenges.

Alex and Justin certainly provided different perspectives and illustrated the journey many coaches have been on. Starting with nothing, not earning much, no real security, but fueled by the love of the game and the desire to make a difference.

Then, after years of toil running your own centre, having a guaranteed income and providing work for other coaches can be satisfied they have made a real difference in the lives of not only their students but their staff and colleagues as well. 

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