Whilst Andy doesn't coach, he does have a management company under which McHugh and Swan are under and you would hope that they would be able to access resources through that channel. I would like to think - and could see - Andy eventually coaching. Possibly a female player or taking on a Leon Smith role.

I'm not so sure of Greg because he seems to do more coms work than Tim but Tim definitely does do "stuff" - charity work mainly and tries to get kids involved in tennis. Just because he doesn't do something in the more traditional sense of coaching doesn't mean he doesn't do anything at all. And both Tim and Greg play on the legends tour. 

They definitely do not "owe" the LTA their coaching services. 

I haven't read that far back but feel like I should step in and put things in their place a little. 

I know maybe some people aren't overly fond of Henners, I think he's a top guy, not only having made world number 3 with a relatively "old hat" game style (only Henners, Federer, Rusedski and few others I can remember since the 2000's could play serve and volley). That is very true he is involved in lots of stuff (clinics, performance manager or something he was appointed recently with Jamie Delgado etc) more of it goes under the radar than the bbc commentary he does. Others who have to appear to make themselves permanently in the spotlight to mask their shortcomings as coaches etc and play the sports personality card i.e Leon Smith, Judy Murray etc).

Greg Rusedski is also a top guy, not sure what hes doing these days saw him on question of sport recently with Tuffers was a good laugh all around, besides working commentary on eurosport I think, I'd guess working with a top junior like (A Matusevich for example even though I know hes from Bromley or somewhere and already working with someone else). If not still in charge of the Junior davis cup team, top guy, last time I ran into him framed him for throwing a pine cone at my mate and he called me a gayboy for it, love him

And Andy, I like him cool dude, I'd imagine he would like to take a backseat and some time away from tennis and to be with his fam when he does decide to call it a day, and it will be much deserved, tough old life we live being involved in sport/tennis especially those at the highest of levels and many kudos to all who stay involved in it much beyond "their own time". Credit where it is due

JonH comes home wrote:

 I can only comment on Leon's work with davis cup team, and it looks like hes done a good job, and seems a decent guy. Why dont you rate him, Junior? Hes even got a tattoo!

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Can't say I rate anyone who rides on the coat tales of other peoples hard work and success. Obviously is a different position if I were to say "well I certainly wouldn't do that". 

My opinion is just Leon Smith and Judy Murray have no real idea and have somehow made themselves household names/bigwigs within the LTA for this, very sneaky to which I applaud. However, I personally would like that when I watch Would I lie to you maybe Judy should leave that to the actual comedians and maybe leave a question of sport to the actual athletes too.  

Bob in Spain wrote:

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1) Firstly with regard to Judy Murray, her work with "Miss-Hits" and "She-Rallies" is doing excellent work for encouraging young girls to take up the sport.  

2) As for Leon Smith, let's not forget that he was Andy's coach as a junior, before Andy went off to Barcelona to train. Leon has found himself the perfect role as DC Captain. I am not knowledgeable enough to discuss Leon's technical skills as a coach although to be made Head of Men's Tennis suggest that others in lofty positions must have a very high opinion of him. What Leon has definitely done, specifically within the DC Squad, is to create a team spirit that was clearly lacking prior to his tenure. He has shown exceptional Man Management skills and surrounded the squad with the right people and the right atmosphere.

3) I think both they have both done exceptional things within their defined roles and should be applauded for their contributions.

 

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1) These schemes have been around for years and for all her amazing work the only thing to show is the participation numbers still going the wrong way. I do applaud whoever's genius idea this teddy tennis stuff I see was. I think its a lot of fun. 

2) If a coach is doing a good job then the player doesn't need to go elsewhere. Did Rafa ever leave Uncle Tony to train in perhaps a place less isolated than Mallorca? Sure the offers would of been there, Francesc Roig himself has a decent academy in Barcelona which would of been an option to him.

Glad we will win the cheerleader trophy, they bought out the stadium in Madrid in Davis Cup semi finals, bought something like 8,000 tickets and only filled 500 seats. "High opinion of him" this just proves to me that the people in charge have less of an idea than he has, and to have created a team etc, is that why Evans openly criticises Jamie? And Kyle Edmund is a chill guy, If he had done this with some players who have character like the Italian, South American teams then I would agree. 

3) I agree they may have had small impacts from a novice perspective, however, when there are better qualified people for the positions etc and it comes down to politics as it does with the LTA (every single time) Its normal they want the people who have done very well to associate themselves to Andy in powerful positions within the LTA. Personally I saw Pato Alvarez a few months ago at Sanchez-Casal, top guy just going about his business not needing to be lorded. 

Coup Droit wrote:

2 x 1.5 hours joint lessons at club
1 x 2 hours group lesson at the league
1 x 1 hour private lesson at club/league
1 x 2 hour group physical training session

And this cost us 250 euros a year

On top of this, trips to national and regional competitions were laid on basically free.

But the backing that I'm talking about above peters out quite quickly and disappears in their early 20s for the players who don't make the cut. So, yes, of course, she would have liked to carry on with subsidised coaching, and obviously this was cut, and she had to find alternative routes and chose the Spanish option (unlike some of her friends, as she mentions, who finance themselves via money events in France).



This seems like a very good way to try and create players, perhaps the LTA should pay heed: Fund them at least to a certain extent during their teenage years and also have a degree of cut off point, as for them to not get lazy, entitled and complacent because of the shedloads of money the LTA threw at players for many many years. Which perhaps is also now why these "all training free" centres are not the greatest of ideas. Free training looks good on paper, but if its not right for you are you likely to turn it down? or if your financial backing doesn't go much beyond the free training you're in a bit of a jam. These hours and prices you have put up for me are very very decent, however one does not reach such a level with but 7 hours training a week, nor will tournaments be able to stay "free or prices covered" for ever.

As far as the "Spanish option" this what she did wouldn't really be seen as an "option" or "pathway", however, for our often lack of organization we do know what we are doing though which leads me back to the LTA unwilling to accept their foreign usage, but that conversation for another thread.
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Copied and pasted from the other thread - in deference to Andy Parker (not UFO's drummer, surely?).

Information provided from a tennis parent regarding cost of junior training per term here. This is a one off example so may or not be representative generally but it provides an indication.

8 x group squad - technical
8 x group squad - match play
10 x individual lesson

Cost per term £550.

Contrasting that with CD's 250 euro figure for the year and you start to see the nub of the problem. Address those cost issues and you'll see more take up of organised tennis instruction by juniors. That's why I believe more money has to flow out to the counties so the cost of instruction at a mass level can be reduced in the clubs. The structure is there but it needs to be implemented better so it works to bring in the numbers.

The other issue I've observed is the lack of juniors hitting amongst themselves. Children are brouught to squad sessions, left for the hour or so with the coaches then are collected and disappear from the club. Where has all the unstructured, free play gone where children hit among themselves or with a helpful adult? That aspect of tennis culture is disappearing fast.

I haven't seen a county coach for ages. Why isn't more interest being taken in junior training? I didn't see one at the last local junior tournament either. I asked why some of the club's juniors weren't playing. A couple of parents said they hadn't known one was on! So I asked the tournament referee why there wasn't a poster up in the club house and why wasn't the coach pushing children to participate. "It's all on the LTA website" was the reply. British tennis nanny state-style.