Twelve tennis coaches from Northern Arizona recently participated in a successful two-day USTA Level 1 Coach’s Workshop, held Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27, 2025 at the Hal Jensen Recreation Center in Flagstaff, AZ. AnnElise, a representative from USTA National, led the intensive training session, designed to guide coaches towards certification and enhance their teaching methodologies.
The workshop focused on incorporating diverse skills into the coaches’ repertoire, including the effective use of Red, Orange, and Green dot tennis balls, as well as smaller nets. Participants also learned strategies for managing and coaching larger groups of players. A unique aspect of the training involved coaches practicing their skills by coaching each other in small groups, using their non-dominant hand to simulate the experience of a new tennis player.
USTA provided lunch for attendees on both days of the workshop. The training received positive feedback from participants. Leyton Fetty of Prescott, AZ, remarked, “The second day was great and we learned how to organize and coach much more effectively both days.” Andy Mraz, a former school teacher from Prescott Valley, shared, “It was a great group of coaches and we all participated in a lot of coaching opportunities with each other, which reminded me of my days in the classroom.” Genie Burns of Flagstaff, AZ, appreciated the workshop’s structure, stating, “I liked the repetition practice, how to set up sessions and how AnnElise checked in often for understanding.”
As the summer season draws to a close in Northern Arizona, these newly trained coaches are hoping to utilize their enhanced skills on the courts with their students. The USTA extends its gratitude to everyone involved in making this training a significant success!
