Coaching
Coaching
Coaching is a key focus at Te Kura Tennis Club. We offer a comprehensive junior coaching program that allows juniors of all ages and abilities to get involved.
Firstly, our Learn to Play program provides our player a fun and enjoyable introduction to tennis, teaches them the fundamentals of the game and eventually prepares them for competitive tennis.
When players have reached this level they are encouraged to join an interclub team, where they receive weekly coaching and play singles and doubles in a team in either the Canterbury Interclub competition.
In addition, there are holiday coaching camps, development squad, a winter coaching program and private coaching available year round.
For adults there is also private and group coaching available.
The coaching program is run by Head Coach Hugo Nurse-Strang and is supported by a great team of qualified coaches who boost the extensive junior coaching program with their enthusiasm and expertise.
Head Coach: Hugo Nurse-Strang
I am a driven and passionate tennis coach with over seven years of experience in New Zealand and in Germany. I have coached regional representatives in Marlborough and Canterbury and have coached the Christchurch Boy's High A team - including highly nationally ranked juniors - at the secondary school's national competition. In Germany I coached competitive senior and junior teams. As a player, I represented Marlborough and Central Districts in seniors and juniors and also competed at the nationals every year as a junior. I currently play Senior Men's tennis in Christchurch.
I have played a large role in recent years inspiring Te Kura players and helping them improve their tennis and get even more enjoyment from the game. I relish the opportunity as Head Coach to build on the great base of enthusiastic tennis players we have at Te Kura and establish a coaching program that helps all of our players realize their potential and their aspirations.
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Coaching Options
Learn to Play
We provide organised coaching for junior players on a Friday after school and Saturday mornings. The groups are divided by age and ability.
Our intention with the program is to develop the children through 3 stages.
Pee Wee’s – Age 4-7 45 mins Friday 3.30-4.15 & Sat 8.30-9.15- Learn hand-eye skills/catching and feet co-ordination
- Focus on making contact with the ball
- Learn to use the right grips and body positions
- Learn to hit the whole range of tennis shots
While learning these skills requires a lot of repetition of each shot, the wide range of games means the kids are guaranteed a fun tennis experience!
Midgets – Age 7+ 1 hour Friday 4.15-5.15 & Sat 9.15-10.15- These kids will be hitting the ball over the net consistently and they will be playing on a full court
- They will start working on correct swing patterns and target hitting
- They will also have focus on footwork componentry with ladder work and some hand-eye games.
- Introduction to basic serving fundamentals and correct technique
To be able to progress into this field, kids should be able to serve and keep the ball in play. There will be some technique work, with the main focus on singles and doubles play, scoring and rules.
This program is fundamentally designed to get them ready for interclub and maybe reserve for some teams if progressing well.
Interclub coaching is the real core of the junior coaching program. Every member of a junior team at Te Kura is provided with a team lesson from one of our professional coaches once a week throughout the entire season (excluding during the holidays). Because there are such a great number of teams at Te Kura, players are always able to join a team of suitable ability and play in a suitable division. They can also choose whether they play in the Friday or Saturday competition.
Players are coached according to their stage of development. Lessons are well balanced challenging and enjoyable, with attention given to developing good technique, game strategy and a competitive edge. Although the basic structure of weekly coaching and matches guarantees steady progression it should not limited to that by any means. For ambitious players it may be just a stepping stone to playing at a higher level in regional, national and eventually even international tournaments. These players can take advantage of all the coaching options available at Te Kura, which are guaranteed to accelerate their development..
At the holiday tennis camps it is our aim to inspire kids and lay the foundations for them for a great future in the game of tennis. It's a chance to really improve because there are four days focused on tennis, which means plenty of time with professional coaches to cover all aspects of the game. Also, in keeping with the holiday spirit, the camps will have a great team atmosphere and be heaps of fun! We will cater for juniors of all ages and abilities, so whether you’re an experienced player or you’re swinging a racquet for the first time, you will be challenged and coached according to your stage of development.
The camps include:
- A wide range of games and games based drills
- challenging drills for experienced players
- Tournament with cool tennis prizes
- Loads of tennis for a great price
- discounts for Te Kura players
Development squads are a new introduction for motivated players. You don’t have to be a star player; you just need the ambition to improve. Our squad coaching is exhilarating and combines all of the important elements to prepare you for competitive tennis. Participants will train in groups of 4 to 6 players and be coached by myself and my top co-coaches.
The sessions include:
- Points-based drills
- Match strategy (singles and doubles)
- Advanced technique
- Video Analysis
- Conditioning
-60 minute sessions for strong pre-interclub or 1st year interclub players.
Cost: $10 each
Time: 2-3pm Sunday during term.
-90 minute sessions for older or more experienced players:
Cost: $15 each
Time: Age 12 and under, Sunday 3 – 4:30pm, 14 and under Sunday 4:30 – 6pm, over 14s Monday 7 – 8:30pm
These squad sessions will often be available in the school holidays as well with flexible time slots. Look out for emails with more info closer to the time.
REGISTRATION:There is no obligation to commit to weekly sessions. Just call, text or email me (preferably a few days) before the session you would like to attend.
There are coaching options available at Te Kura for anyone looking to improve their game no matter what age and ability. Private lessons must be at least half an hour and group lessons at least one hour. You may organize groups yourselves (of similar ability!) or I can help arrange a group for you. Group lessons with 2, 4 or 6 players work best.
Private lessons and group lessons are offered by me and my new additions to the private coaching team, Tuscany Hamel and Artem Vassiliev. This means there is wider range of time slots available, a wider coaching perspective and also coaching at a reduced cost. Both coaches have two seasons of coaching experience. They have great technical knowledge and teaching skills, being able to work with all ages and abilities. Their knowledge of the game is largely thanks to the high level they have reached as players. Both have played on the international junior circuit. Tuscany is currently making regular trips to Auckland to play in the highest tennis league in the country (the Caro Bowl) and is aiming to enter the professional women's circuit part-time in 2011– yet still stay with us as a Te Kura coach :) Artem has represented New Zealand at age group level, played number 1 for Christchurch Boy's High and is likely to receive a tennis scholarship to a College in the USA in 2011. Try to make the most of him while he is here!
Cost:
Hugo $50 per hour
Tuscany $40 per hour
Artem $40 per hour
(For group lessons the hourly rate is divided by the number of players in the group).
REGISTRATION: To book a lesson call, text or email me.
For those seniors fortunate enough to have flexible working hours, I am offering a 20% discount on lessons during my “off-peak” times as an initiative to get more seniors involved. So this is an opportunity for anyone wanting lessons between 9am and 4pm during term 4, 2011. Remember, it’s never too late to improve and coaching is heaps of fun!
Pre-Season Discounts for Juniors
This is a great chance for juniors to tune up their games in time for the season. From now until Labour Day (24/10/2011), I am offering private lessons for $20 per half hour and group lessons starting at $10 per hour for anyone registered for Learn to Play or Interclub. I can help organise groups.
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