Team Surrey Tennis Coach

Closing date: 6 September 2026

Location: Surrey Sports Park, South East

Employment type: Part Time

About the role

The Team Surrey Tennis Coach plays a central role in delivering high-quality tennis opportunities to students at the University of Surrey. Reporting to the Tennis Development Officer, the coach is responsible for supporting both performance and participation tennis, working with registered squad members as well as the wider student community. The role also includes guidance and support for volunteer coaches within the programme.

The position offers approximately 10–12 hours of coaching and programme delivery per week during Semesters 1 and 2, with additional opportunities for private lessons and involvement in community and padel activities. As of the 2026/27 season, the programme supports 69 registered student players competing across BUCS, local leagues, and development competitions. Alongside performance tennis, Team Surrey delivers recreational sessions, beginner coaching, and social tennis opportunities designed to engage students of all abilities. The long-term aim is to strengthen the performance pathway while expanding participation, ensuring tennis remains accessible, competitive, and sustainable within Team Surrey. The programme is also expanding into padel, creating opportunities for the successful candidate to contribute to the development of both sports.

The coach will help foster an environment where students can thrive, aligned with Team Surrey’s ethos of “Move | Play | Perform,” ensuring activities are adjusted to meet varying abilities, experiences, and interests.

Responsibilities

Weekly Coaching Delivery

The coach will deliver a structured weekly programme at Surrey Sports Park, working across multiple squads and ability levels. Delivery spans:

• Beginner staff tennis
• Mixed-ability recreational sessions
• Intermediate development squads
• Advanced BUCS squads
• High-performance training groups

Sessions include a blend of cardio tennis, social tennis, technical development, tactical training, and competitive preparation. The coach will work with both men’s and women’s squads across beginner, development, advanced, and performance levels, adapting delivery to meet the needs of each group. Session formats and squad allocations may vary across the academic year and will be agreed in advance with the Tennis Development Officer and the student committee. The coach is expected to ensure sessions remain inclusive, engaging, and aligned with Team Surrey’s performance and participation objectives.

Competition and Match Support

The coach will support BUCS competition activity where required, including:

• Match-day coaching
• Warm-ups
• Player preparation
• Ongoing support throughout the season

Fixtures take place across both semesters, usually midweek with occasional weekend commitments.

Collaboration with the Student Club

The coach will work closely with the Team Surrey Tennis student committee to support the ongoing development of the club. This includes:

• Assisting with trials and squad selection
• Advising on session structures and competition preparation
• Contributing to the club’s coaching philosophy
• Helping maintain a positive, inclusive, and high-performing training environment

General Administration

• Complete essential e-learning and documentation provided by the Sport Development Manager within the first four weeks of appointment
• Adhere to Team Surrey coaching policies and practices
• Adopt a flexible approach and undertake relevant training as the department and programme evolve

Any significant changes to the job purpose will be discussed and reflected in an updated job description.

Requirements

• LTA Tennis Level 2 qualification (Level 3 preferred) or equivalent
• LTA Coach Accreditation (Accreditation+ desirable)
• Proven track record as a tennis coach, showing consistent delivery and player development
• Solid understanding of Long-term Athlete Development principles and ability to apply these to coaching practice
• Awareness of inclusive and accessible tennis formats
• Experience of coaching, managing, or playing at junior or senior international level (desirable but not essential)
• Valid DBS clearance

Skills

• Strong communication and teamwork
• Adaptability and effective planning and organisation
• Commitment to continuous improvement
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Leadership and management qualities
• Creative and analytical thinking
• Basic influencing and negotiation skills
• Strategic awareness
• Solid intermediate technical competency

Pay

£20-30 per hour depending on qualifications and experience