How to Attract New (and Younger) Tennis Coaches to the Industry
By Jorge Capestany, RSPA Master Professional, and PTR International Master Professional
If we’re being honest, the tennis coaching industry has a pipeline problem.
Clubs are struggling to find quality coaches. Programs are growing, but the number of young, motivated coaches entering the profession isn’t keeping up.
And here’s the hard truth…
It’s not because young people don’t love tennis. It’s because we haven’t made coaching appealing enough.
If we want to grow the game and our businesses, we need to rethink how we attract the next generation of coaches.
I’ve been hiring young coaches for more than four decades, and what they are looking for these days is dramatically different than what they wanted years ago.
As part of my role in the Hope College Racquet Sports Management (RSM) Program, I’ve had a front-row seat to what makes these aspiring young coaches tick and what drives them away from the industry.
Let’s break down what actually works.
1. Stop Selling “Teaching” and Start Selling Opportunity
Most young players don’t grow up dreaming of being a “tennis coach.”
But they do dream about:
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Making money doing something they love
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Having flexibility
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Being around sports and competition
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Building something of their own
The problem?
We position coaching as feeding balls and running drills.
That’s not exciting.
Instead, show them:
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How coaching can turn into a career
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How they can build private lesson income
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How they can run camps, clinics, and events
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How they can eventually manage or direct programs
Coaching isn’t just a job, it’s a career opportunity.
If you don’t communicate that clearly, you’ll lose them before they even consider it.
2. Make the First Step Ridiculously Easy
One of the biggest barriers for young coaches is simple:
They don’t know where to start.
So they don’t.
Instead of expecting them to “figure it out,” create a clear entry point:
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Shadowing opportunities
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Paid assistant roles (even if small to start)
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Simple lesson plans that they can follow immediately
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Plug-and-play drills so they feel confident on court
This is where our system and the platforms within TennisDrills.TV becomes powerful.
When a young coach realizes:
“I don’t have to invent everything… I have to deliver it well.”
Everything changes.
Confidence goes up. Anxiety goes down. Retention improves.
3. Give Them Early Wins (Fast)
Nothing keeps a young coach engaged like success.
Nothing drives them away faster than feeling lost or ineffective.
So instead of overwhelming them with theory, give them:
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2–3 go-to drills they can run immediately
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A simple structure for a 60-minute lesson
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Clear communication scripts (how to talk to players/parents)
Let them experience:
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A class that runs smoothly
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Players having fun
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Parents saying “Great job.”
That first positive feedback loop is everything.
4. Modernize the Image of Coaching
Here’s another issue…
To many young people, tennis coaching looks outdated.
Compare it to:
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Fitness coaching
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Online creators
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Sports performance training
Those industries feel modern, dynamic, and cool.
Tennis coaching often feels… stuck.
We need to change that perception by:
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Showcasing energy and personality on court
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Highlighting creative drills and competitive games
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Using video, social media, and tech
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Emphasizing innovation, not tradition
If coaching looks exciting, more people will want in.
5. Create a Clear Path for Growth
One of the biggest reasons young coaches leave?
They don’t see a future.
If all they see is:
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Hourly pay
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No advancement
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No long-term vision
They’ll move on, fast.
Instead, show them a pathway:
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Assistant Coach → Head Coach → Director of Racquet Sports
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Specialty roles (high performance, juniors, adults, pickleball crossover)
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Opportunities to earn more through programming
Spell it out clearly.
Because if you don’t define the path… they’ll assume there isn’t one.
6. Build Community Around Coaching
Young coaches don’t just want a job.
They want:
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Connection
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Mentorship
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A sense of belonging
Create that by:
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Running regular team meetings or trainings
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Allowing them to attend industry events and conferences
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Sharing ideas, drills, and wins
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Connecting them with a larger coaching community
When they feel part of something bigger, they stay longer and grow faster.
7. Pay Matters More Than We Admit
Let’s not ignore reality.
If coaching doesn’t compete on financial terms, you’ll lose good people.
Now, that doesn’t always mean paying top dollar right away, but it does mean:
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Showing them how they can increase their income
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Giving them opportunities to earn more (privates, camps, events)
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Rewarding initiative and performance
Young coaches are willing to work hard…
But they need to see that it leads somewhere.
8. What Young Coaches Fear Most (And How to Fix It)
Let’s call it what it is…
The biggest fear most new coaches have is looking dumb.
Not failing. Not working hard.
Looking like they don’t know what they’re doing, especially in front of adults.
That fear shows up in very specific ways.
They hesitate to give technical advice because they’re thinking:
“What if this player says… ‘That’s not what the head pro told me?’”
They avoid taking the lead in a group because it feels safer to stand on the side and assist.
They second-guess themselves. They talk less. They default to feeding balls instead of actually coaching.
And the result?
They never fully step into the role.
Next Steps: Getting Started with USTA Coaching
If you’re serious about bringing new coaches into the game, give them a clear first step, and one of the best places to start is with USTA Coaching.
The USTA has made it easier than ever for new coaches to get involved with:
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Entry-level education and certifications
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Onboarding resources for teaching beginners
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A clear pathway to grow as a coach
Encourage them to simply get started:
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Create a coaching profile
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Explore beginner coaching courses
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Get connected to local programs and opportunities
The key is momentum. Once they take that first step and begin learning in a structured way, everything starts to feel more real, and more achievable.
Pair that with on-court experience, a few go-to drills, and some mentorship… and now you’re not just recruiting coaches, you’re actually developing them.
Final Thoughts…
The Future of Coaching Depends on This
If we want tennis to grow, we can’t just focus on players.
We need to build coaches.
And not just more coaches, but better, younger, more engaged coaches who bring energy, creativity, and ambition into the game.
The good news?
They’re out there.
They need:
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A clear path
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The right tools
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A reason to say yes