Dato Patrick Liew
KUCHING: There is potential reward for those who inspire to become a tennis coach in the state and over the years, local coaches have helped to boost the standard and popularity of the game among the young ones.
Parents could be encouraged to become part time coaches to their children with the aim to promote the game among the younger generation.
Many of the world’s top ranking tennis players first started the game when they were coached and groomed by their own parents like men’s reigning US Open champion, Andy Murray and women’s champion, Serena Williams.
One of Kuching’s evergreen coaches, Joseph Lee had coached three of his sons to become local champions namely the late George Lee of SEDC Sarawak, John Lee and their younger brother, Raymond Lee who is also a single handicapper at golf.
And for those who are looking for extra income, there is good money to be made by giving tennis lessons either at private clubs or individually on part-time basis.
In the Peninsula for example, the average cost of coaching fees is between RM75 to RM150 per hour.
Locally, the average coaching fees is very much lower and is between RM70 to RM80 per hour.
In the United Kingdom (UK), young people especially those aged 16 and above are being encouraged to become tennis coaching assistants with the aim to motivate them consider taking up tennis coaching as a prospective employment.
To make it accessible, teenagers can qualify to become an assistant coach after undergoing and achieving Level 1 coaching qualification which normally takes about a year to complete.
For those who want to go further, they must complete Level 2 the following year before opting for further development like taking up a tennis apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship is basically an innovative programme undertaken by the British government aimed to promote young people to be involved in development of the game in the country.
Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) president, Dato Patrick Liew is all out for those who wants to become tennis coaches and disclosed that there are ample opportunities for those who are keen to teach others about the game.
According to him, there are a lot of good local coaches who have been giving tennis lessons on part-time basis and they have in fact inspired many young people to start playing the game including present and past state champions.
“We have a lot of good coaches around and they have been giving tennis lessons on part-time basis because of work commitments,” he said on the crop of local coaches who have played their part in promoting tennis among the general public.
Over the years, SLTA had undertaken many coaching development programmes which also include encouraging teachers to become coaches who will in return teach students in their respective schools.
Some of the notable coaches who have been around since the 1970s are Augustine Lee who is a 70-year-old veteran, Joseph Lee, Kho Kueh Leong, Paul Loi, Francis Foo, Ang Lak Sa, Francis Wong and Wan Abdul Rahman.
Apart from Raymond Lee, the younger generation of coaches include former state champion, Alexis Wan and Liew Meang, presently the only active female coach.
“For them (coaches) tennis is basically taught on part-time basis because they have full time jobs and they teach mainly school children at places with available courts,” said Liew on the present state of private tennis coaching.
He said it was rather saddening to see that parents are still reluctant to pay good money for their children to have proper tennis lessons which are aimed to provide them with elementary skills and basic knowledge of the game.
“The local coaches are unable to charge more fees simply because most parents are not willing to fork out large sums for their children’s tennis lessons and furthermore the volume is not there yet,” Liew lamented.
On a brighter note, SLTA has always been there to assist parents who are keen to send their children for tennis lessons and for the past few years it had employed qualified foreign coaches to develop potential young players.
“We do appreciate the local coaches and play our part in taking the talented players to the next higher level. We have been employing experienced and qualified coaches from abroad to empower our players to fulfil their full potential,” Liew said.