I don't think there are any foreign coaches at the NTC (apart from Louis Cayer - Canadian) but there have been foreign heads of coaching there in the past.  And I have come across quite a number of coaches at the various academies with a Spanish background.  Also quite a few from Hungary, Croatia and that region. Obviously coaches vary but I would say they do bring something a bit different.  My own experience is that those with a Spanish background tend to do more drilling and repetition with their pupils.  I do feel though, that the further you go on the LTA pathway the more British the coaching becomes (coaches at the higher level are often our ex-professional players) and to me it does all seem a bit cosy.  However, there is nothing stopping a player from paying for their own coach from anywhere in the world.

EddietheEagle wrote:

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The Optimist wrote:

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. . .  I do feel though, that the further you go on the LTA pathway the more British the coaching becomes (coaches at the higher level are often our ex-professional players) and to me it does all seem a bit cosy.  However, there is nothing stopping a player from paying for their own coach from anywhere in the world.

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Apart from Cayer, there's not much British either about Brad Gilbert, Julien Hoferlin, Paul Annacone, Carl Maes and Peter Lundgren. Even John LLoyd  was a California resident. The one British coach who was right up there, David Feldgate, was sacked, presumably to allow Draper to bring in his foreign jobsworths.

And who have this stellar bunch produced? No one.

 

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 As I said, there have been plenty of foreigners heading up the coaching.  But those who are actually on court with the players at the NTC are largely British ex-professional players.

The Optimist wrote:

 

 As I said, there have been plenty of foreigners heading up the coaching.  But those who are actually on court with the players at the NTC are largely British ex-professional players.

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I think you're referring to wannabees. The only ex-professional players I can think of are Henman, Rusedski, Wilkinson and Bates.

With regard to academies in general, I hear of players moving away from these formal academy structures towards a more a la carte approach which some high level coaches are now favouring. I don't know why the LTA remain so besotted with the idea but there again, you would never expect the LTA to be ahead of the curve.  

junior wrote:

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Maybe a better word than wannabee is more appropriate, 

 

As far as Henners, Greg , Chris and Jeremy bates: I think they're mostly involved in the schemes development pathway of the LTA (plus commentary, junior Davis cup captain etc), Chris Wilkinson lives in Portsmouth so difficult to see him at the NTC daily and I think Jeremy bates spends time in places like La Manga and took on one of these younger girls for a time a few years ago (Boultier, Dart?).

 

Some more of the older names, I was very surprised when Kyle Edmund brought an old name out recently as a coach, Mark Hilton (lefty not that tall), Martin Lee has the academy at Bisham and was giving private lessons to my brother, Arvind Palmer is at regents park or dukes meadows one of the london clubs, Barry Cowan hopefully has retired even from tennis commentary, Miles Mclaghan might still be floating around (also took on a female player some years ago who I can remember who, Robson?)

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 Jeremy Bates was coaching Katie Boulter until her back problem and I think he still is her coach. Miles McLagen was coaching Laura Robson during the summer of 2012 until she discontinued the arrangement. I think he was her coach when she had her wrist injury which derailed her career.

 

 

When I was a teenager, I had a coach called Simon Ickringill, who was 9 time Yorkshire Champion but never made anything beyond that top of the county game level. He became Head coach for many years at Ilkley and ran all of the playing and coaching side there, plus ran the club shop. I think it was a nice earner for him generally.

Do any of the top players do that ie become club pro and general main man at any of the top clubs , in a similar way to what we might all expect to see at a decent sized golf club?

JonH comes home wrote:

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When I was a teenager, I had a coach called Simon Ickringill, who was 9 time Yorkshire Champion but never made anything beyond that top of the county game level. He became Head coach for many years at Ilkley and ran all of the playing and coaching side there, plus ran the club shop. I think it was a nice earner for him generally.

Do any of the top players do that ie become club pro and general main man at any of the top clubs , in a similar way to what we might all expect to see at a decent sized golf club?

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 Depends on a few things really, interest, need etc

A lot of past players do dedicate themselves to being coaches etc, however if they were that good its unlikely to see them down your local club giving an hour session to 65 year old janet in the mornings. We're lead to believe tennis is cheap and or attainable, it isn't. Even more in England where the ex-pros aren't all that well known or ever reached the height of tennis. 

Obviously this involves a lot of dedication, travelling, weekends etc

Most of the ex players with their own academies do have their own players either on the side or as part of their academy. (Francesc Roig- Rafa, Sergi Bruguera-Tsonga, Juan Carlos Ferrero-Alcaraz etc etc)