Hi to the red-ball juniors, all the kids who have had lessons with me, their parents, and fellow club members. I gave my last red-ball junior lesson on Saturday 9th April 2022 whilst working full-time. 

Back in 2017 I had quit my job which I did not like and suddenly found I had a lot of free time whilst working out what to do next. On a friend’s recommendation I gave a kids’ tennis lesson a go with coach Bash. I must admit on that day I was far more nervous than any kid on the court, but within a few minutes had settled in and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Now fast forward to 2022. The last five years have flown by and now it’s time for me to take a break from coaching. I have found my Saturday red-ball kids coaching at Swanmore a highly rewarding experience. It’s been a privilege to teach the kids tennis skills (forehands, rallies, backhands, volleys, serves, and improved my own skills), have lots of fun and memorable games (jail break is my personal favourite, pacman and galaxy defenders), and, to see the children develop both as people and their own tennis ability. Many juniors have moved up into the next class Mike’s orange ball, and some are now in Jake’s yellow ball group (well-done juniors). There’s bound to be many of them with their eyes on adults’ tennis! 

I wanted to say a big thanks to Coach Mike Johnson. He is a brilliant coach, highly committed to our tennis club, developing players and supporting all coaches and helpers. I could not have done any of this without his support over the years from my enrolment onto LTA1 Teaching Assistant, summer camps, developing my own confidence to give lessons and create my own red-ball group lessons ideas. 

I also wanted to say thank you for the lovely card, chocs and rioja. Also, I could not have done this without Thalia’s dedicated help every Saturday, going along with my weekly ideas and turning up no matter the weather! Thalia is great with the kids and is more than capable to run the group on her own and has an exciting future ahead of her on whatever she decides. 

Finally, I would like to thank all the junior Saturday helpers, all the juniors and their parents, they always turn up for tennis no matter what the weather does! 

PS. I’m still at the club keeping very busy playing lots of tennis with my husband and friends, league club matches and captaining the East Hants Ladies B Team.

Katie Chamberlain