A TENNIS COACH.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19675, 19 July 1929, Page 16

A TENNIS COACH.

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION'S DECISION. SCHEME OF TUITION TO BE GIVEN TRIAL. After much consideration and rejection of impracticable schemes, the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association has at last adopted a definite coaching scheme, under which the services of Mr GeoSrey Ollivier will be availed of as coach. This decision was arrived at bv a meeting ot delegates to the Association last eveuing. The scheme, while giving every prospect of bving the means of considerably raising the standard of Canterbury tennis, promises to l/C more than self-supporting; in fact. a definite sou&ce of revenue to the Association. Trie scheme will be given a three months' trial. The Match Committee of the Association submitted the following scheme to the meeting: That Mr G. Ollivier bo offered an appointment as the official coach to the Association, subject to the following conditions: —That the time to be given to the Association's work be on an average of 32 hours per week ; that the scheme of coaching be on the lines suggested by Mr H. Thomson, providing for courses of six half-hour lessons with one hour lecture on courtcraft, for a fee of £1; that the Match Committee set up a special Coaching Sub-committee, which shall be responsible to the Association for the coaching activities; that the offer of Messrs W. S Clayton and Co. to grant the free use of a portion of their practice ground at the rear of their premises in Cashel street for coaching purposes be accepted with thanks.

The Match Committee recommended: '■' That the Association engage Mr Ollivier in accordance with the conditions and regulations of the above s ' eme for a period of three months, from August Ist, 1929, if possible, in order that the scheme mav be given a trial."

Mr Thomson's scheme provides that the coaching be carried out in a central studio, equinoed with volley-board and other apparatus, each lesson to be individual coaching. Coaching hours woul be arranged by the pupil to suit his own convenience, at any time of the day or evening, wet or fine. The studio would have splendid daylight arrangements and electrie light for evenings. The coaching would be carried out in half-hour lessons, comprising backhand, forehand, volley, service, smash, and general, and one hour's lecture on court-craft at the conclusion of the course. The fee for the complete schedule would be £1 per pupil.

The recommendatior of the Match Committee was considered in committee by the delegates, after which the decision of the meeting was conveyed to the Press representatives. It was also stated that promises of support had already far exceeded expectations, all clubs and individual players having expressed the keenest approval of the scheme. Mr P. E. Harman, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr H. Thomson for his enthusiastic work for the project, said that it was largely on account of Mr Thomson's efforts that Buch a scheme had been made possible. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation, other delegates making appreciative references to Mr Thomson's work in formulating such an eminently satisfactory solution of a problem that had long been a source of trouble to the Association. A motion of thanks to Messrs W. S. Clayton and Co. for their generous offer was also passed.