BERMUDA'S tennis coaches will undergo an intense course next month put on by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium.

David Lambert, the president of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, said this week that the course would last for 61 hours over nine days.

He said recently that members of the BLTA's coaching sub committee, chaired by Coolridge Place, met with the coaches and explained what is going to take place and the structure of the course.

While Lambert noted that a large percentage of Bermuda's coaches do have certification from various organisations, no coach in Bermuda has taken any of the ITF coaching courses.

"The ITF is the governing body of tennis and they have been talking to the BLTA about how important it is to have our coaches work with their instructors. This is really about coaching coaches so they can be a better coach to our players in Bermuda.

"It is very important that we align ourselves more with the ITF," said Lambert.

"The course (from January 17-25) will update our coaches on the latest techniques being used. It will allow our coaches to spend a substantial amount of time with an ITF tutor. Of the over 61 hours of the course, 52 of those hours will be on the court and the rest of the time will be in the classroom – blackboard work and video taping. The tutor will spend time in identifying faults with various techniques and rectifying them. Much will be made about strategy and working with players and also the long-term development plan. There will also be mental and fitness training components to the course. They will also show how to structure a programme for players who are now moving into that stage where they are playing international matches. It will be a very complex course – we have to keep up to date with the latest coaching techniques since the art and style of playing tennis is always evolving."

Lambert said they are already working with the ITF on staging another course in January of 2010.

"It is exciting to see most of the coaches in Bermuda are interested in continuing with their education."

Lambert said the ITF and the Bermuda Olympic Association have helped fund the course.

"Judy Simons, the newly elected president of the Bermuda Olympic Association has supported the course and we appreciate all the BOA support," said Lambert.