Tennis coaching

Tennis Coaching Provider Opportunity

Spelthorne Borough Council Outdoor Tennis Courts

Annual Tennis Licence

1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025

Guidance Notes

Spelthorne Borough Council (SBC) is looking for professional and enthusiastic local tennis coaching providers to deliver an annual community tennis programme.  This will include a combination of free and chargeable weekly group tennis sessions.  The Council will provide access to its outdoor tennis courts for a nominal fee and will promote the tennis sessions with an emphasis on the free community sessions.  If you have a passion for tennis and making a difference to local communities, the Council would like to hear from you.  Please read these guidance notes before completing the application form.  

The Opportunity

Coaches will be able to select a preference for the venue, day and time they would like to use the tennis courts, although some restrictions will apply as outlined below. Tennis coaches are invited to complete the online application process.

We will use this information to assess against our key criteria of which the Council's highest priorities are:

• health and safety for participants
• short-term and long-term affordability for residents

We will inform you if your application is successful. Please note that the decision of the Council is final.

Programme Dates

1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025

1. Terms and Conditions

1.1      Two tennis courts will be available for coaching in day light hours Monday-Sunday.  The coach has the option to provide either children's or adult group coaching and can choose to provide either:

1.2      Coaches must provide a free coaching/free community activity per week.  The length of this session is dependent on how many chargeable coaching hours the coach wishes, to provide. Please see table below:

Details of some suggested supervised community activities are outlined in Section 3).

1.3      Chargeable coaching activities that the coach may choose to provide are the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Youth Start for children aged 4-11 who have never played tennis, or the LTA Youth Programme for those aged 4-18 who have played some tennis. 

1.4      One court at the site must always be kept free for the public (excluding Stanwell as there are only two courts at this site).  The coach will be the only tennis coaching provider at each site.  Bookings can be made for no more than 3 hours per day during the week and 4 hours at the weekend between the hours of 8.30am and 5pm.  The days and times of use will be by prior agreement with the Council. The courts must only be used for tennis.  No other use is permitted without the prior written consent of the Council.

1.5      The lead coach must be Level 3 Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) accredited.  Proof of this qualification must be evidenced in advance to the Council.  Level 3 accreditation will satisfy insurance, DBS check and first aid requirements.  If you subscribe to the DBS update service, you will be asked to give SBC permission to view your DBS certificate before coaching commences.  A Safeguarding Policy and Health and Safety Risk Assessment must also be provided.  Lead coaches must ensure that the venue programme is planned and delivered under their supervision.  The provider must give a list of coaches/coaching assistants who will be operating on the site in advance to the Council.

1.6      The coach must provide all equipment including rackets and balls.

1.7      The coach to pupil ratios must be in line with those recommended by the LTA. 

1.8      The coach must ensure that those with disabilities or impairments are provided for.

1.9      The coach must promote both the coaching and free sessions at the site with details of how to book via telephone or email.  There must be an adequate administration system in place to efficiently take bookings. This information must also be provided to the Council.   All promotional materials must be approved by the Council in advance of material being displayed. 

1.10   The coach must provide programme statistics to the Council initially on a weekly basis (for the first month of a new term to allow the council to assist with promotion), then on a monthly basis and at the end of the programme to include the following information:

1.11   The coach must ensure that they and their coaching team act in an appropriate manner that reflects positively on the Council. For example, under no circumstances should a coach behave in an unsafe manner, use inappropriate language, smoke or be under the influence of alcohol or other substances at any time on court.

1.12   The Council shall have the right to terminate this management agreement immediately in the event the provider is in breach of any of the terms of this management agreement.

1.13   Subletting of court time will not be permitted.

1.14   The Provider must ensure that the courts are left in a clean, safe, and tidy condition, free of litter and other materials. Any defects must be reported to the Council via leisure@spelthorne.gov.uk or 01784 446433.

2.0     Accidents and Incidents:

2.1      Any accident or incident that takes place during a coaching providers' booking must be reported to the Council's Leisure and Community Development Team via email or telephone.

2.2      If a safeguarding concern is raised during a session, the Coach must follow the Lawn Tennis Association Safeguarding procedures and the Council must be notified that this has been done.

3.0     Free community session

3.1    The content of this session must support LTA initiatives where appropriate.

Here are a few ideas for your free weekly sessions below. It is suggested that people have to pre-book their free space.  The Council may stipulate the target audience for these sessions eg those in need. The Council will assist with the promotion of these free sessions.

• Free Parks Tennis - a new initiative delivered on a Sat or Sun at 10am by volunteer activators and equipment is provided by the LTA. More information is available here Free Park Tennis Operators | Free tennis sessions at your courts | LTA
• Supervised play session (similar to a club session)
• Walking Tennis session
• Cardio Tennis
• Tennis Xpress
• Parent & Child
• Wheelchair Tennis
• Any other suitable ideas you can think of, which a coach can supervise/lead

Timeline

Deadline for submitting application forms: Wednesday 14 February 2024

Email address for enquiries: leisure@spelthorne.gov.uk

Telephone number for queries: 01784 446433

Deadline for notifying successful candidates: Friday 22 March 2024

Apply for a tennis licence