PNG Tennis Association to end 3-day coaching programme

THE Papua New Guinea Tennis Association will end a three-day coaching clinic today for its new coaches, president Barbara Stubbings says.
The clinic is facilitated by two International Tennis Federation officials – ITF technical director Dermot Sweeney and Oceania development officer Gary Purcell – who are currently in the country.
“Both ITF officials came back for another official visit to help work with our up-and-coming juniors, especially with our Under-10s and U12s and also with the senior representative squads as well,” Stubbings said.
“The objective of hosting this clinical programme is to have expert coaching, and the idea is that when they’re working with the kids, the kids don’t realise that they’re actually working more with coaches in the background.”
Stubbings said three coaches would be travelling to Fiji next month to complete the rest of the courses to attain a level 1 coaching accreditation as per ITF regulation.
“At this time we’ve got Eddie Mera who is our level one coach. He is also working alongside our new coaches before they depart the country for a level one coaching in Fiji next month,” she said.
“We’re also trying to conduct a women in tennis leadership programme come September so there is a lot of good things happening for PNG Tennis this year.” Meanwhile, Stubbings congratulated the seven juniors’ who recently competed in the 2023 Oceania Pacific Junior Championships in Fiji under the supervision of coach Mera.
“This is a good lead-up for our juniors from the Oceania Pacific Junior Championship and we hope to see more participation.”