Life beyond the tennis court
For close to 20 years I was a professional tennis coach.
This wasn’t necessarily by intention, but through opportunity. I fell into aworld of professional and community service that became a completely consuming lifestyle.
As a club tennis coach, the work is not confined to the court, but it begins the moment you wake and can often be the last thing you think about before you close your eyes at night.
Unlikemany other coaching roles in sport, as a club coach you are responsible for players of all ages and abilities, from beginners right through to the elite. This aspect of the profession provides plenty of variety in the workplace, but there can be moments of feeling like you are a jack of all trades and amaster of none.
With that said, I wouldn’t have changed it for anything in the world. I gained the same amount of satisfaction from enabling a beginner tennis player to learn how to play a topspin forehand as I did from assisting a junior competitor to claim a national title.
My decision to endmy professional coaching dayswas not an easy one to make for a variety of reasons, but it was definitely the correct one at this stage of my life.
Such a time- and lifestyleconsuming occupation takes its toll, not just on family life, but also yourmind and body.
Themajority of yourworking hours are obviously during the average person’s recreational time, which is before and after typical work or school hours.
This can make the time you have available for your own family and friends scarce.
The relentless hitting of balls, day after day, beats the body into submission, with muscles and joints groaning every time the racket makes contact with a ball.
I have asked myself the question, however: ‘‘Would I do anything differently if I had my chance again?’’
The short answer to that question would be ‘‘no’’.
The relationships I have built, the joy and satisfaction that I gained along the way, combined with the successes and acknowledgements that I achieved have made this roller-coaster journey as a professional tennis coach one I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Since my decision to choose a different career path, many have wondered what that move would be.
Once again it wasn’t necessarily a planned decision, but more one that made sense, and made the most of my relationships with others, aswell asmy standing in the community.
You will have towatch this space for that information, as I have work and study to do in the meantime, but I amexcited that my new careerwill allow me to still help individuals and families in the sameway I had done for the past two decades.
My involvement in tennis will continue to a degree and I will remain involved with the Tennis Manawatu¯ senior representative side, which is exciting.
I have many to thank for a glorious 20 years in a sport that I have loved and I look forward to continuingwriting about a game that has given me so much.
Jono Spring is a former professional tennis coach