We are so excited to let you know that Elly has been accepted on the LTA Level 4 Senior Performance Course.
This is an extremely selective course and only 16 people in the UK are accepted each year. This reflects Elly’s excellent application and the LTA’s belief that Elly will be an ideal candidate to attend the Senior Performance Course.
The goal of this course is to train coaches to develop players at the 10U Regional Performance and 14U National Performance stages of the Player Pathway, preparing them to be successful at the International junior stage. It is an informative and demanding course which has been developed by industry experts in player development and sports science and medicine. Bringing best practice in high performance coaching coupled with the world’s latest research and insight into coaching excellence, this course will inspire and motivate coaches to be exceptional at developing 14 & under international level players.
To find out more about the Senior Coach course aims and objectives click here.
Elly tells us more about the course
“During this past year I’ve been on the LTA’s Female Performance Engagement Course. Through the lockdowns this course really kept my motivation and drive going. I was mentored by national coaches and made part of a bigger network of great coaches. I found the lockdowns tough mentally. The stopping and starting for us as self employed coaches was tough. I felt massive pressure and struggled with the large amounts of downtime during the lockdowns.
“What it did give me time to do, after looking after our two amazing girls, was to self-reflect. For that I feel incredibly fortunate. As a mum/parent, when do we get time to self-reflect about our life/career/passions. My female performance course helped me channel my reflections.
“The opportunity to be on the LTA Female Performance Engagement course was such a positive for me in a difficult year. It gave my coaching a new life, it made me remember why I chose to leave America to pursue coaching, and it reminded me why I do what I do even when it often emotionally and physically exhausts me! As lockdowns came to an end all I wanted to do was continue to learn and develop my coaching to a higher level.
“I didn’t expect to get a space on the SPC – Level 4 (Senior Performance Coach) this year, but thought it was good practice to complete the application. Part of this application was showing videos of the children I work with – so thank you kids for being brilliant and putting in so much time in the past year or two!
“The course is a big commitment, it will put me outside my comfort zone working with very good performance coaches and having to do lots of video work! I am really excited to have a place and be able to transfer everything I learn to the courts and to the sessions I deliver, as well as to our coaches – positively impacting everyone!
“I do have to spend a few days a month away on my course and will have online training days once a month, but what I learn on the course will make what we are doing at Elly Shearman Tennis Coaching even better, which is always the bigger picture that I’m looking at!
“Harriet (my PA) asked me to write this as I really don’t enjoy writing about myself, but she wanted you guys to be aware of what I was up to! What I’d like to say is how grateful we are for being part of such a supportive community – your support had made this past year or two much less stressful than it could have been, so thank you!”
Francois wanted to share his thoughts on Elly’s exciting next chapter
“All her hard work and dedication to improve her ability as a coach shows in her passion, drive and importance of every kid being the best they can be. She wants to be the best she can be and this course will raise her coaching to the next level. Every student she teaches she truly cares about, and wants the best for them and their tennis.
“She sets high standards in all that she does and this will keep her on the path of being a better coach not just for the kids but herself. She is truly a remarkable person in all aspects of her life, personally and professionally.”
More about the Course
The LTA Senior Coach and Senior Performance Coach (SPC) qualifications (Level 4) are for coaches committed to developing their on and off court coaching skills beyond Level 3 Coach competencies.
The Senior Coach curriculum is developed to prepare candidates for lead and head coach roles and develops deeper expertise with on-court coaching frameworks. The SPC curriculum is developed to prepare candidates who will typically be working with players on the National Player Pathway. Both strands of the Senior Coach Qualification (Level 4) will share an aligned curriculum across four core training modules, with candidates then specialising through Electives in programme and business management or player development.
Amazing Elly! Congratulations on being accepted in the course!