David Lambert believes his vast years of coaching experience will serve him well in his new position as chairman of Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association’s Pro Registry.Lambert, who stepped down as BLTA president earlier this year after 11 years at the helm, chaired his first Pro Registry meeting yesterday having been voted in by its 21 members last week.A passionate believer in tennis teaching, Lambert said he would be working closely with the Island’s professional coaches to ensure they remain up-to-date with the latest advances in equipment and training techniques.“I firmly believe the more knowledge a coach has the better the player will be,” said the 55-year-old.“Our coaches carry a strong influence and it’s also important they work together and that they’re highly skilled and certified.“From different types of balls, racket strings and coaching techniques, my job is to keep our coaches up-to-date on everything that comes on the market.“I’ll be taking the ideas of the pros and help to make them a reality while making sure they fit into the main objectives of the BLTA.”Top on Lambert’s agenda is introducing a BLTA recognised certificate for aspiring coaches as well as re-establishing a coaching exchange programme with the United States Tennis Association.“Coaches are right in the trenches; they’re on the courts in the heat of the day and they’re in the rain working with the players,” said Lambert, director of tennis at Elbow Beach.“On top of our agenda is to provide a coaching certificate structured by the BTFA to all young Bermudian’s interested in becoming teaching professionals.“Quite a few of our coaches have travelled to different parts of the world to take advantage of courses that have been offered and hopefully that can continue.“We also want to work closer with the USTA in re-establishing an exchange programme so our coaches can travel to the US with our youngster and vice versa.”Former Pro Registry chairman, Cooleridge Place, succeeded Lambert as BLTA president in March having previously served as a vice-president.Lambert, a close friend of Place since they were youngsters battling for local supremacy on the court, said he is committed to helping his former rival achieve his goals and objectives.“Cooleridge and I have kind of switched positions, I guess,” said Lambert. “I feel this is a good position for me, though, as I teach tennis everyday and I’m in touch with a lot of the other coaches.“This is a body of teaching pros who are heavily certified not just with the International Tennis Federation but also the USTA.“We’re looking forward to having a busy calendar and to work closely with the goals and objectives of Cooleridge and the board of directors.”