Crosby tennis coach Ben Saunders has just completed a UK tour helping the Lawn Tennis Association deliver its Davis Cup Legacy programme to 1000 coaches. Ben, who was one of 5 "mentors" asked to help inspire and deliver the new "Tennis For Kids" programme up and down the country to coaches, was involved in 7 out of the 15 training days which kicked off in his old city of Edinburgh and finished in Wales.
Ben who was reunited with his old friend and colleague Leon Smith, Great Britain's Davis Cup winning Captain, was thrilled to be asked to help with the campaign which is aiming to get 10,000+ new kids, aged 5-8years, playing tennis this summer.
Ben said ‘It's been an amazing few weeks working with Leon again as well as Greg Rusedski and Annabelle Croft. I've been to new places as well as some of my favourite tennis venues and met and worked with some amazing people. The energy at the training days has been unreal and a lot of people, including Leon, have said this has been the best campaign the LTA have ever run to help grow grassroots tennis.’
Ben’s career into coaching came about as a result of him helping at competitions aged 16, whilst he was still actively playing the game. Of this decision, Ben says ‘I soon realised that I wasn't going to be the next Tim Henman, so I thought coaching was the best way to stay in the sport.
I quickly took some coaching badges and started with grassroots tennis, before a previous coach of mine; Judy Murray, took me under her wing and got me involved with performance coaching.
Years later, I've gone full circle and am back at grassroots level “growing the game” running my own coaching company. We do everything from Tots Tennis to Cardio Tennis and I've also been tutoring now for 2years or so. This is what probably got me the Davis Cup Legacy gig and had me back working with my old friend and colleague Leon Smith!’
If you know any children who would like to get 6 weeks free tennis group coaching plus receive a FREE tennis racket & ball and live locally to Campion Lawn Tennis Club, you can sign up to Ben’s sessions here.
Alternatively find your nearest “Tennis For Kids” coaching programme here.