Ben Jones - AEGON Coach of the Month
Ben Jones, tennis coach at Norbury Park Lawn Tennis Club, has been nominated for October’s AEGON Coach of the Month after boosting opportunities for juniors at the club.
Ben became Norbury Park’s coach in April of this year and quickly began enhancing the junior coaching programme and providing increased opportunities for competitive match play for junior members.
Ben built up relationships with twelve local schools and hosted free taster sessions, including “Cardio Kids” in eight local primary schools. Ben then went on to set up a “walking bus” from the schools in order to put on an after-school tennis club for local children.
In Ben’s time at the club, participation in the mini tennis programme at Norbury Park has increased by 50% in the past five months and the number of teenage participants is also rising.
Junior drills and match play are now integral parts of the club’s tennis programme. Adult group and individual coaching numbers also continue to increase. As a result Ben has added a “Beginners” and an “Intermediate” group to the already well-established “Improver’s Group”.
Ben has thrown himself into the life of the Club and in addition to his coaching duties has become involved with the Board in securing funding for the Club, marketing the various courses and helping to convert newbies to members.