"I have known Chris Matthews since early 2017, when my children started attending weekly lessons at Frome Selwood Tennis Club. Since this time I have observed many of Chris’ lessons, with different age groups and also school groups.
Chris is effective at forming relationships with children and families. He ensures that every child and family feels welcomed and takes time to form relationships and get to know children’s strengths and needs. He is an incredibly effective teacher. He is superb at gaining the children’s attention, at motivating them and at supporting the next steps in their learning. I have also observed first-hand how reflective Chris is when supporting children with additional needs and adapting teaching approaches. I feel that Chris also helps to encouraging healthy and positive attitudes toward the sport and competition and is a brilliant role model. "
Jenny S. - Parent & Chartered Educational Psychologist
“We have been consistently impressed by the dedication, inclusion and professionalism of Chris and his team. The sessions are a highlight of our son's week: fun, varied, inspiring and challenging. We have seen his self-confidence grow since starting tennis and we believe this is due in no small part to the input from the existing team. Chris is a real asset to the club and to the community, which know and appreciate him so much.”
Esther W. - Parent
"What Chris offers is unique - he is a hugely talented coach with a real virtue for helping people build their confidence and enjoyment of tennis. I know he has a wealth of experience with high level athletes which he is perhaps too humble to share more openly; this translates in both children and adults making great progress with their tennis in an environment that is very supportive. He has built a group of volunteer coaches who are hugely committed and who are themselves making a real difference in the community by creating opportunities for those who may be new to tennis to give it a go. I have seen Chris support the volunteer coaches himself and build their confidence, which I think it’s wonderful."
Meki N. - Club Member & Adult Coaching Participant
"Chris has been our Club Coach since April 2015 until the spring of this year.
Chris is an LTA Level 4 Accredited + Coach who ran a very full programme at our club and has served us well during his tenure here. During this period the number of junior participants on our programme increased from 78 to 117 and the number of sessions attended from 79 to 134.
He places great emphasis on playing strokes correctly and believes that this provides a good foundation that will serve a player well through their playing career. He is reliable and rarely cancels a lesson through bad weather, and only when it is unsafe for pupils to attend. During his tenure, three schools visited the club for coaching and he visits three more for curriculum- time and after-school coaching.
During my period as Chairman I received several complimentary letters from players and parents praising various aspects of his coaching.
I have found him to be very supportive and co-operative, and during the time when I was Chairman, he responded very promptly to my communications with him. He has also maintained an excellent record of attending Management Committee Meetings, having only missed one during 3.5 years.
Finally; he plays a very attractive game of tennis and has contributed to the success of our Men’s A Doubles Team during his period here.
I have no hesitation in offering myself as a Referee for Chris. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information".
John Price - Chairman of Frome Selwood Tennis Club from 2007 until early 2018,
"Chris is an absolute asset to the club primarily because he is such a great coach. Our children have consistently enjoyed their lessons whilst making steady improvement with their ability.
He has an ability to pitch his teaching at all ages and has consistent approach to their technique. He goes the extra mile in brushing up lessons with reflecting back to their technique skills by showing videos of what players have done. His teaching style is consistently enjoyable and encouraging.
In addition, we have found Chris to be very committed. Chris has determination to run classes under various weather conditions and rarely cancels lessons and only if it is unsafe to the children to attend. Chris is flexible to suit the lessons if there is a need to change the day or children need to have a catch up lesson.
Finally we are most grateful to him for offering the opportunity to a group of older children to help with younger age groups. Our son Onni had this great experience which helped Onni with his tennis and interpersonal skills. "
Katja G. - Parent
"Chris is not only a great coach, but is wholly inclusive and encouraging. He coaches kids in a way that enables those who aren't necessarily immediately and obviously skilled and instils confidence in them and a love of playing that goes beyond league tables and competition. My son has been inspired to play by Chris's encouragement and way of coaching, and after attending tennis camp in the summer has a new enthusiasm for the game that is quite amazing. He rarely takes to things unless he has a good connection with the teacher and Chris as I observe regularly has personal relationships with each child in his groups.
In my case, Chris encouraged me to join on a Friday after I mentioned I loved to play as a kid. Friday tennis has been a total life saver for me after a traumatic bereavement. He has a personal connection with students, hands on, one to one approach that can build up competitive players, but also creating an environment where tennis can be for everyone of all skill levels. He has created a community of kids that feel safe, seen and well held by him and improving week on week in their tennis skills."
Julia N. - Parent & Adult Coaching Participant
"Both my children have had coaching with Chris for over 2 years. They have both showed considerable improvement in their tennis playing and have consistently enjoyed their lessons. Chris has recognised their strengths and challenges both as players and individual children... providing feedback to me as their parent and suggestions as to how they could be supported to get the most from their coaching. For example, where one of my sons required additional support to build his confidence Chris organised for myself and him to have a lesson together so that I could better understand his needs and encourage him to continue tennis. Where my children have had to miss lessons due to ill health or other extra curricula activities Chris has always offered flexibility and opportunities for accessing lessons at other times.
I have also been receiving coaching from Chris after not playing tennis for a number of years. I lacked confidence in my abilities and needed guidance to improve my strokes. Not only has my tennis and fitness improved, I also developed enough confidence to feel able to join the club and attend club nights (with much encouragement form Chris - I know he has volunteered to accompany prospective members to club nights to support them if they are feeling under confident). As a working parent it has been essential that I can access coaching flexibly and Chris has again enabled me to do this... providing catch up lessons where I have not been able to attend my regular coaching slot. Chris’ coaching sessions have been well planned, structured and always challenging. He is very good at recognising individual coaching needs even in larger groups, adapting his teaching approaches based on the needs of each player. It should also be noted that Chris has always been reliable and I have only ever known him cancel one lesson out of all the lessons that my children and I have accessed (due to his own ill health). Where lessons have had to be cancelled due to the weather Chris has always offered alternative dates.
Chris has very generously offered to support my older child’s Duke of Edinburgh activity by allowing him to volunteer at the tennis club supporting the coaching of younger children. Again, this supportive and responsive approach can only add to the sense of community at the club and what it can offer more broadly."
Polly W. - Parent, Club Member & Adult Coaching Particpant
"Chris has been teaching tennis at St John's School, Frome, for a number of years. Initially he came to the school and taught tennis skills on the playground but this has progresssed and we now walk to the tennis club to use the facilities and now coaches up to 60 children at a time on the courts. His calm, positive nature reflects on the children who are able to learn the skills he teaches. Lessons are fun, informative and are at a level where everyone is able to achieve and improve.
As a result of his coaching, lots of children have joined the tennis club, attended holiday clubs run by himself. As a school we have been able to enter mini red tennis competitions and have been winners for the past 3 years and subsequently gone on to represent our area at the Somerset School Games. All this would not have been possible without Chris's organisation, passion for the game and friendliness towards us and all those others whom he coaches. "
Marcus B. - Teacher
"I have recently started lessons at Frome Tennis Club with Chris Matthews. I have previously had lessons in Bath at various locations but found that in the group sessions my confidence dropped as the coaches gave very little feedback and encouragement.
I have found Chris to be highly experienced and knowledgeable coach, his approach to lessons are tailored to your individual ability, I have gained confidence again with my tennis since attending his group lessons.
His lessons are always friendly and non competitive, he is approachable and I always feel I am encouraged to work to my potential. He watches every student carefully so he can tell you how to improve he has a real attention to detail even filming a lesson so you can see every aspect of your game.
Chris is very fair in time spent and cost and I strongly recommend him as your tennis coach."
Karen H. - Adult Coaching Participant
I have known Mr Matthews for the past 4 years, both as a parent and as a colleague. I found him to be consistently pleasant, tackling all assignements with dedication and smile.
Besides being a joy to work with Mr Matthews is a take-charge person who is able to present creative ideas and communicate the benefits. He has an excellent skill of detecting children`s capacities and abilities and can apply various teaching methods at any time. He is extraordinarly helpful in any areas. During his coaching we saw an incredible increase in children`s number joining the tennis coaching program. Chris Matthews`s knowledge of teaching tennis embraced from the smallest to the oldest almost everyone and filled the club`s life with energy and joy.
We have been members of the FST Club for the past ten years and we are proud to admit that the club`s revival was a direct result of the hard work implemented by him.
Orshi O. - Club Member, Parent & Teacher
I've lived in Frome for over twenty years and as a parent of four I have enrolled my children in to various sporting activities and clubs. My youngest two were particularly interested in trying out tennis and I approached the Frome club in 2012 regarding lessons. At the time there seemed to be little interest in the development of the children's side of the club but my children enjoyed their time there non the less.
In the Spring 2015 Chris took over the position of Head Coach and a transformation took place. His enthusiasm for the sport was evident and his genuine rapport with the children of all ages is fantastic! Come rain or shine he is there with his firm but fair approach and clearly has the respect of the children and parents alike.
I have seen my children's tennis playing go from strength to strength and I cannot thank him enough for all the effort he puts in. I would be happy to recommend him to other parents without hesitation and consider him a valuable asset to the Frome club. Without him I very much doubt we would be there!
Mel T. - Parent