HISTORY

IN THE BEGINNING

The BTCA began its life in 1925 formed by Frank Mousley to publicise the growing number of professional tennis teachers. The new association also felt that providing competition for the professional teachers was a priority.

 

The early efforts of the Association of 1925 faded somewhat in the middle thirties and it was not until after the Second World War that a big effort was made to create a stronger association. The Lawn Tennis Professional Association was formed in 1946 with Dan Maskell (pictured right) as chairman.

LTPA

Experienced coaches such as Doug Gresham, Ted Millman and Basil Lawrence all contributed to the first organised Conference held at the Newhaven Court Hotel, Cromer. The LTPA had no direct connection with the LTA but there was some desire to see the association affiliated. The conference made some important decisions, including establishing the five fundamentals of coaching and reintroducing the British Professional Championships.

LTA TAKEOVER

During the fifties the association fell into financial difficulties, at which point they were taken over by the LTA and renamed The Lawn Tennis Professional Association of Great Britain.

 

Open tennis in 1968 saw another change in the association's title to the Lawn Tennis Registered Professional Coaches' Association.

 

Two significant things happened in the seventies. Assistant coaches were invited to become associate members and, in 1972, the association voted for independence from the LTA, though it was to take some years before independence became a reality under the new title of the Professional Tennis Coaches' Association (PTCA).

PTCA

The eighties saw the association make a major contribution to the LTA’s Training of Coaches scheme. The PTCA made many important recommendations to the course content and the LTA started providing grant aid to the association for its in-service training courses.

 

Sammy Brancker was elected Chairman in 1983 and oversaw many important changes, not least the decision to affiliate to the LTA in 1984. 1987 saw associate members become full members and in 1988 elementary coaches were invited to be members of the PTCA.

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

1997 saw yet another name change to the British Tennis Coaches’ Association to reflect the diverse range of coaches who were members.

 

Financial independence from the LTA was achieved in 2002 and saw a move from the LTA offices in London to the current offices at the Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis Club.

The British Tennis Coaches' Association now has over 2,800 members, making it the largest independent body of tennis coaches in Britain, run by coaches for coaches.

TENNISCOACHUK

2008 saw the introduction of a trading name - tenniscoachUK - to provide the organisation with a fresh and relevant new image.

 

2008 also saw the organisation become fully independent from the LTA, following the decision of the Board not to renew affiliation to the governing body because of the LTA's continuing policy not to consult with Tenniscoachuk on matters relating to coach welfare.

 

In 2009, the LTA made the decision to launch a rival membership scheme to Tenniscoachuk, signaling their intent to reject any form of collaboration with Tenniscoachuk for the benefit of coaches. As a result, Tenniscoachuk has successfully repositioned itself as a strong independent representative body for tennis coaches, specialising into a comprehensive business support structure for part-time and full-time coaches alike. Tenniscoachuk continues to make itself available to the governing body to work together for the greater good of coaches.