Tennis coaches ’need trips’

Press, 2 September 1977, Page 28

Tennis coaches ’need trips’

If New Zealand tennis, coaches were given the opportunity to travel overseas and study varying teaching methods, the standard of; New Zealand tennis would' substantially improve. That is the view of Mr, lan Occleshaw, the official J coach of the Victorian Lawn; Tennis Association, who is I in Christchurch for the 1977: Rothman’s tennis coaching school. He is one of ,’ive coaches: instructing some of the, South Island’s top junior) players. Mr Occleshaw believes I that if coaches were given a soel! overseas it would lift, first the standard of coach-' ing and ultimately the standard of play. He is impressed with the quality of junior play that he has seen. "New Zealand's junior tennis is in very good shape. l Technically it is equal to the standard of Australia’s juniors." He does feel, however, that the over-all- standard is

: a little behind Australia, for 1 ■ one main reason. j ; "In Australia the Kids play l 52 weeks of the year, ’ whereas over here some, I‘have a three month break,; and it takes time to get | ■ back into the game again after that break.” Mr Occleshaw thinks that at top level Australians have, a problem. "At the moment the top; level is a bit shallow. When :we have to rely on John Newcombe and Tony Roche 1 | there is definitely something wrong. I think Ross Case is; I very close to the level required, but Mark Edmond- ) son, while he is a very strong player, is not fit enough.” He added that although Edmondson was technically , not particularly good, he is a “battler,” which Mr Occle-j • shaw admires. He has a philosophy that! ' promising youngsters must) ’ be encouraged and gently) pushed to get the best out) >,of them. »