Coaching at the Cocks & Hens

Stuart Smith has been appointed as our new head coach Head Coach: (Email: northernsmith@hotmail.com). Whilst as at the time of writing (Feb 07) concentrating on the Monday and Wednesday Junior groups from 4 p.m., Stuart is also available at other times for both juniors and adults: please contact him for details.

The present coaching sessions though are on-going, and from time to time there will also be “holiday camps” for youngsters and “one-off” promotions for schools: as much notice as possible of these events will be given to members.

Andy Lingley DCA will also be pleased to coach individuals at any time: he can be reached on 07803 598126. Andy will try to work round members’ regular weekly slots (hence the request for these details). However the AGM confirmed a priority court use for Andy as follows:-

“Throughout the whole week (Sunday to Saturday inclusive), up to 4 p.m. each day (except only to 2 p.m. on Saturdays unless the grass courts are available) Andy Lingley shall have priority use of one court (usually court 10) for coaching purposes, regardless of what else may be happening at the Club. Should all the courts be in use then he has the right to ask for court 10 to be vacated. Should he decide that this court is unsafe for use he shall be able to transfer to another court. Should this be one of the Portway courts and the adjacent one be in use, he shall explain the reason for his move to those on that court and will exercise his best endeavour to ensure that the balls being used on his court are not hit over to the adjacent one”.

Coaching is also available from Annie Clarke for Juniors & Individual (01799 530383) or Barbara Gebhard for Ladies Groups (01763 242075). It should be noted that no other coaches may teach at the Club without the prior consent of the Committee and the payment of an appropriate fee.

The Committee and all coaches are conscious of the need to balance usage of courts between members’ interests’ on the one hand and coaching on the other, the main pressures occurring when only the hard courts can be used. To facilitate this process and whilst most of the details are already known, it would greatly assist if members who play at fixed times on a regular basis during the week would please confirm this to the Treasurer.

The whole aspect of coaching will be kept under constant review over the next 12 months and, depending on how things develop, further changes may well be necessary. Members will be advised and should contact either the Secretary or Treasurer will any query.