Jonathan Thie has been a tennis instructor
in one way or another for the last three years.
While Jonathan Thie is a great tennis player, he knows that playing the
game well is only a small part of what it takes to be a great tennis
instructor.
Jonathan Thie has gained experience in
teaching tennis at all levels. He’s
taught children ages ten and under for three years, taught middle school tennis
for one year, was a Junior Team tennis coordinator for a year, and has also
taught at men and women at the high school level. Currently, Jonathan Thie is the Head Coach
for the St. Thomas More Men’s team (a private Catholic School in South Dakota).
While teaching styles and techniques vary
amongst these diverse age groups and demographics, Jonathan Thie has found a
few things to remain true across the board.
If you’re interested in becoming a tennis instructor or coach, Jonathan
Thie has two main tips to share:
- Become certified. Jonathan Thie has found that certification opens so many doors when you’re a tennis teacher. There are so many talented tennis players out there, and many of them could be good teachers. However, you’ll find that few have certifications. Jonathan Thie is certified by PTR, USPTA, and USTA. While you don’t need to be certified by all three, having at least one certification will help you find coaching and teaching opportunities.
- Be personable. It’s important to remember that you aren’t just teaching tennis. When your teaching children and high school students (especially), you’re also a role model. Jonathan Thie has learned that it’s very important to engage with his students on a more personal level than just talking about their backhand.
These are just two valuable lessons Jonathan Thie learned early on in his tennis
instructing career.
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