COACHING
"If you don't practice, you don't deserve to win".
- Andre Agassi -
The club runs weekly adult, junior and teen coaching from September to June.
Members Only.
For more information click below
Meet Our Coaches
Hugh O'Loughlin
Level 2 Coach
Hugh has 40 years experience as a tennis coach
His experience is vast and includes Director of Coaching for Dublin Parks Tennis, Manager of Malahide Castle tennis centre, Coach at Malahide, Portmarnock, Clontarf, St. Ann's Raheny TC & Enjoy tennis coach.
He is a Tennis Ireland & FCTCA Tutor and Director of Tennis
In addition to this Hugh is an ex-class one tennis player and still enjoys playing league for the club.
Hugh is Garda vetted and has completed training in Child Protection and First Aid.
Hugh runs his own tennis academy and is
available for group or private lessons.
CONTACT: 086 027 1320
Hugh O'Loughlin(BA)
Stephen Murtagh
Level 1 Coach
Stephen has over 10 years experience as a tennis coach. His experience includes an assistant to Derek Healy at Shankill and coaching at Deerpark Tennis Club. He has coached all ages from 4yrs upwards including league teams.
Stephen has been a level 1 coach since 2013 and certified Tennis Ireland Director Of Tennis. He is the club's school co-ordinator with Tennis Ireland and also our junior social tennis organiser. Stephen is also certified as a specialist on the serve since 2021
Like Hugh, he still enjoys competitive tennis playing at league level for DPTC.
Stephen is Garda Vetted and a licensed Tennis Ireland coach.
He has completed training in Child Protection and First Aid.
Available for private coaching.
CONTACT: 087 055 2623
Adult Coaching
Whether you are new to tennis, getting back into tennis, playing social, round robbins, league or just want to improve your tennis ability; our coaches offer a variety of group sessions
Our head coach Hugh O'Loughlin will run clinics for aspiring league and competitive players.
For more details, or to book private sessions as an individual, pairing or group, contact:
Hugh at 086 0271320
Our coach Stephen Murtagh will run groups for Beginner (6pm) and Improver (7pm) adults on Tuesday evenings.
There will also be a group on Thursday and/or Friday mornings subject to demand. These groups usually run in blocks of either 4 or 6, depending on the time of year.
For more details, or to book private lessons, contact Stephen at stephenmurtaghtc@gmail.com.
Which Course is Right for Me?
The summary below outlines what's covered in each of our three adult coaching programmes. If you're unsure which one's right for you, please contact Hugh O'Loughlin (086 027 1320))and he'll be happy to guide you in the right direction.
1
BEGINNERS
The aim of the beginners' programme is to help players serve, rally and score. On completion, you will know the basic technique of the forehead, backhand, serve & volley along with some tactics and a good comprehension of the rules of tennis
2
IMPROVERS
This programme is aimed at those who have completed the beginners' course and who wish to improve/develop their technical ability to enable them to improve their match-play ability. Game-based learning is used to create point-based scenarios to reinforce technique
Junior & Teen Coaching
Our junior and teenage coaching programmes are run in a fun, safe, and enjoyable learning environment following Tennis Ireland's coaches' education system.
Junior & Teen Group Coaching Schedule
Run in line with the school year our programmes are run by coaches Hugh O'Loughlin and Stephen Murtagh. It caters for juniors of all levels, beginning with groups for red ball players and progressing to orange, green, and finally the standard yellow ball. For queries re junior tennis please contact our coach Stephen at stephenmurtaghtc@gmail.com
Our next 10 week term of junior coaching was to start in January 2021. In light of current level 5 restrictions and Tennis Ireland guidelines, coaching cannot commence until further notice.
Please note:
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Classes are divided by age and ability using modified equipment, smaller courts and slower balls (red, orange, green and yellow)
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All classes include warm-up, physical components (e.g. balance exercises), technical topics (e.g. serve), and games based around various technical topics, finishing-off with an appropriate cooldown.
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Spaces are limited – only juniors and teenagers booked can attend coaching.
Days & Times
Days and times for upcoming programmes will be advised via WhatsApp and/or by email in advance. Please ensure to sign up for our Junior Members group.
Term Costs
The cost of a 10-week term is €80 for members. Coaching is currently available to members only. Discount for siblings - please advise when booking.
Booking
To book your junior into our coaching programme, or for more information, contact our coach Stephen via email at stephenmurtaghtc@gmail.com
Assembly and Collection
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The assembly and collection point for all coaching is at the tennis courts at the start/end of coaching.
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In the interest of children’s safety, cars should park in the golf club main car park. Access to the tennis courts is by walking past the tee-box on hole 1 on the yellow course (to the right of the yellow hut) and then following the gravel path over to the side of the fairway, through the trees and on to the tennis courts. This walk takes about 5 minutes.
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Please avoid parking in the private car parking space opposite the tennis courts or on the grass opposite the tennis courts. If golfers are teeing off please wait for golfers until they are finished and then walk down to the courts. The same applies on your return to the car park.
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No children are to be dropped off by car on the main road.
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Children must be collected unless otherwise agreed when booking.
What to bring
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Rackets are available to use during coaching if needed - tennis balls also provided.
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We recommend that you bring a water bottle to avoid children from leaving courts during the lesson.
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Please wear appropriate clothing - classes will go ahead in light rain.
JUNIOR COACHING REFERENCE MATERIAL
Achievement Awards
When a red ball player (usually aged 5-7) joins our coaching programme, the aim is that before they progress to the orange ball they will complete the five skill awards which are detailed below. Each time a level has been completed the child will be presented with a certificate by the coach.
For further information please below
Achievement Card
To track their own progress, students will also be asked to occasionally fill in an achievement card.
9+ Years Feedback Form
A report card of sorts. This will be presented to players aged 9-12 once per year in the programme and will allow the pupil to see the progress they've made and the areas on their game which may need more work.
12+ Years Goal Setting Sheet
As our juniors transition to the yellow ball and more competitive opportunities they will be encouraged to think more about their own game and journey in our fantastic sport.
SUMMER COACHING
We are grateful to our coaches Hugh & Stephen for running a very successful 10 weeks of junior coaching this summer.
Thanks also to all juniors who took part. The next term for junior members will start 3rd week in September, details will be emailed nearer the time. In the meantime our Coaches are available for private coaching, please contact them directly to arrange.
Click on link below to watch our virtual tennis video.