Every parent knows the difference a coach makes. The right one can keep a kid playing for years. The wrong one can end it in a season. This week, tennis took a significant step toward bridging that gap with the launch of USTA Coaching, Inc., a national platform designed to provide coaches at every level with the training and tools they have long needed.
Organizations like the Positive Coaching Alliance and the Aspen Institute’s Project Play have been leading the way in shaping how we think about great coaching for years. Other sports, like hockey, volleyball, and lacrosse, have also built strong certification systems. But USTA Coaching raises the bar — it’s one of the first to deliver a truly unified, all-levels education platform that not only covers screening costs and insurance, but even adds unique benefits like telehealth.
What This Means for Families and Coaches
The promise is straightforward: coaches at every level will get training in the things that matter. Not just how to run a drill, but how to keep kids safe, how to build their confidence, and how to create an environment that makes them want to keep showing up.
Former world No. 1 and Billie Jean King Cup Captain Lindsay Davenport underscored the weight of this moment, noting that “the most important ingredient for the success of tennis in the United States is the coaching that the players receive.”
For parents and volunteers, that means a clear pathway the first time they’re asked to step in. For high school and community coaches, it means mentorship and deeper education. And for full-time professionals, it’s certification, insurance, and benefits that bring stability to a career too often undervalued.
Safety and Security at the Center
One of the biggest shifts here is that safety isn’t optional. Every Rally, Pro, and Pro Plus coach must complete SafeSport training and a background check — and the USTA is covering the cost. Families shouldn’t have to wonder if their child’s coach has been vetted.
