Tom Butler-Sainsbury, our popular coaching assistant, has been working hard for the past few months to prepare for his level 2 coaching award, with 4 full and intensive days of training plus several hours of mentored coaching with a senior coach, and today his hard work paid off as he passed his assessment and has now qualified as a UKCC level 2 coach.

Tom, a sixth form student at Barry Comprehensive School, is employed as a coaching assistant with Vale Tennis Academy and also volunteers for Barry Community Tennis Club, where he is an active team member. Tom and his family have been involved with tennis in Barry for a number of years, and are heavily involved in the development of your community club.

Tom's newly qualified status will enable him to run sessions as the lead coach under Vale Tennis Academy's programme, and will also give him additional skills and experience to impart to those participating in the sessions where he is a volunteer or assistant coach.

From gaining his Tennis Leaders award less than 2 years ago, Tom has made excellent progress and is a great example to any local youngsters wanting to get onto the coaching ladder. All the very best from all of the committee, Tom!