TennisTT awarded ITF bronze level certification

THE TENNIS Association of TT (TennisTT) coaches’ education system has been awarded bronze level certification from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

This certification signifies that TennisTT’s coaches’ education system is capable of independently certifying coaches to the required quality standard of the ITF.

Based on the advance level status of TT’s system, TennisTT was able to skip the lowest certification level (white certification) and move directly to the bronze level.

TT now joins a small pool of 15 countries worldwide to achieve the bronze level and is the only country in the English-speaking Caribbean to achieve any level of coaches’ education certification from the ITF.

This accomplishment for TennisTT aligns with its goals of becoming the regional hub for tennis development. With this certification, Tennis TT is now authorised to independently put on ITF-sanctioned certification courses up to Level I.

These courses will be conducted at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua and has immense potential to attract local, regional and international coaches to our shores. The Racquet Centre, however, is currently being utilised by the TT Government as a step-down facility for recovering covid19 patients.

As of October 2020, four countries achieved white level certification, 15 attained bronze, seven secured silver and 18 received the highest of standard of gold level certification.

TT and Cuba stand together as the only countries in the Caribbean and Central Americas to achieve ITF’s certification for its coaches’ education system.

This certification comes on the heels of the local fraternity receiving an award of recognition for ‘Tennis Excellence’ from the ITF at the end of 2019 and provides an extra source of motivation to the executive as they pursue the ultimate goal of achieving ITF’s certification of the National Training Centre by the end of 2020.

The ITF’s certification of TT’s coaches’ education system is a major part of TennisTT’s goals for making TT the regional hub for tennis which has been four years in the making.

TennisTT president Hayden Mitchell thanked the ITF and their development staff – Luca Santilli, ITF executive director of development and international relations and John Goede, ITF development officer of the English-speaking Caribbean.

He also acknowledged Minister of Sport Shamfa Cudjoe for her commitment to tennis, as well as TTOC (TT Olympic Committee) president Brian Lewis and the staff members at Sports Company of TT (SPORTT).

Additionally, Mitchell hailed the tutors, led by Kyle Hannays, for setting and maintaining a high standard for tennis coaches’ education. He also credited the TennisTT executive for their longstanding support and commitment for the development of the sport.