LAWRENCE Bolger was only eight years of age when he made up his mind towards tennis coaching and administration. Today, the 25 year old is all set to reap from his efforts and determination.With a degree in education and looking forward to his graduation next year with a Masters degree in Sports Management, the tall and athletic build tactician can only dream for a brighter future in a career of his dream.
He says nothing will separate him from the racquet and tennis coaching especially in preparing young stars to get where he couldn’t as a player. During his dissertation ahead of the masters degree he chose Tanzania as his country of study.
And for four healthy and undulating months the Dutch man committed his time in developing a compact route which the local tennis association, TTA, would pursue in the coming years towards realizing its set goals and objectives.
Despite the fact that he had to slow down by 180% to adapt to a new routine and overcome a language barrier, his stay was a huge success. He says things were slow and relaxed compared to his home country where operation is in top speed.
Tell us about your internship in Tanzania
It is more on tennis management than coaching. The whole idea is driven by a desire to develop a blueprint that is expected to define the way forward in developing the sport of tennis in this country.
I would like to help the association set up a vision, draw up a direction and propose an outline plan that will define the future of the sport in the country. In the end the association will have a sustainable framework to follow.
Ultimately, Tanzania Tennis Association will have a clear route towards achieving the set goals. Operations will be more professional and so will be the coaching. Kids will be developed from mere enthusiasts to incredible tennis players.
Basically, I would like to develop a strategy that will make Tanzania Tennis more sponsorable especially by the Dutch government. It is a dream that must be achieved.
How did you come up with the idea
It is mere passion for the sport and a determination to produce players. I started playing tennis when I was six. After two years, an idea developed in my mind that I had a call to coach and develop players. I therefore prepared myself to a career towards this end.
My first responsibility was to acquire the right education that would propel my dream me where I wanted. A degree in education was my first stop. But then I realized it was not enough. So I went for masters in sports management and administration which I am graduating next year.
Currently, I am a certified Level II tennis coach from the world tennis body ITF, but looking to do Level III to amass more skills. I really want to be part of peoples’ development and the career is only the beginning. I have a long way to go.
How does it feel being involved in Tanzania’s young talent development:
I really like the fact that the kids are willingly able to come to the courts to practice. At least there’s a foundation. Being involved with this particular talent pool is a big step towards achieving my dream. Spending time with this talent was most enjoyable.
It takes 20 hours a week to develop a player. He should hit the ball a 1,000 times each day. I feel that coaches must help the kids train 20 hrs a week if they are to attain the international mark of 10,000 hours of training in 10 years.
How can the coaches achieve this
Commitment to the course! Coaches must be innovative, proactive and committed to the set goals. There must be dedicated discipline in producing players. Coaches must be able and willing to offer something unique to a given talent.
It is true there are some good coaches who can offer something different. However, there education is very low. The national association should be able to allow and motivate the coaches towards going for trainings and attend ITF refresher courses.
For example, back home in Holland, a coach is not allowed to take ITF Level III Course unless he has five year experience in Level II. This only comes back to the importance of education.
Is there a life in tennis Tanzania
Absolutely! There is a lot of talent which is the main menu in all efforts to develop the sport. The current team in the association is doing a fabulous job in developing workable plans. And Tanzania is doing very well in regional tennis.
I mean there is noticeable direction in tennis development. The school tennis project is for example expected to build a strong foundation for the sport. This is good testimony that there is a working structure.
So it means we are going forward……….
Yes, and the current momentum must be kept. First coaches must be more technical and more scientific while training. If you look at the hard courts at Dar es Salaam gymkhana club for instance, the ball moves very fast. Players must be trained to become more aggressive and come more to the net other than the situation today where they play from the baseline.
Although players may lack the experience and exposure, coaches must be able to train a more aggressive approach for players to adapt easily in more competitive grounds. The association must also be strict with the coaches and draft up goals and targets for coaches to achieve.
You are currently a teacher in a tennis academy in your country. What are your dreams.
The ultimate dream is to establish my own tennis school. I have learnt a lot from the OTB Company where I work. The experience will be of great importance in a few years while I put up my own academy. Tanzania of course will be my next tennis destination abroad
I would like to help the association set up a vision, draw up a direction and propose an outline plan that will define the future of the sport in the country. In the end the association will have a sustainable framework to follow.
Ultimately, Tanzania Tennis Association will have a clear route towards achieving the set goals. Operations will be more professional and so will be the coaching. Kids will be developed from mere enthusiasts to incredible tennis players.
Basically, I would like to develop a strategy that will make Tanzania Tennis more sponsorable especially by the Dutch government. It is a dream that must be achieved.
How did you come up with the idea
It is mere passion for the sport and a determination to produce players. I started playing tennis when I was six. After two years, an idea developed in my mind that I had a call to coach and develop players. I therefore prepared myself to a career towards this end.
My first responsibility was to acquire the right education that would propel my dream me where I wanted. A degree in education was my first stop. But then I realized it was not enough. So I went for masters in sports management and administration which I am graduating next year.
Currently, I am a certified Level II tennis coach from the world tennis body ITF, but looking to do Level III to amass more skills. I really want to be part of peoples’ development and the career is only the beginning. I have a long way to go.
How does it feel being involved in Tanzania’s young talent development:
I really like the fact that the kids are willingly able to come to the courts to practice. At least there’s a foundation. Being involved with this particular talent pool is a big step towards achieving my dream. Spending time with this talent was most enjoyable.
It takes 20 hours a week to develop a player. He should hit the ball a 1,000 times each day. I feel that coaches must help the kids train 20 hrs a week if they are to attain the international mark of 10,000 hours of training in 10 years.
How can the coaches achieve this
Commitment to the course! Coaches must be innovative, proactive and committed to the set goals. There must be dedicated discipline in producing players. Coaches must be able and willing to offer something unique to a given talent.
It is true there are some good coaches who can offer something different. However, there education is very low. The national association should be able to allow and motivate the coaches towards going for trainings and attend ITF refresher courses.
For example, back home in Holland, a coach is not allowed to take ITF Level III Course unless he has five year experience in Level II. This only comes back to the importance of education.
Is there a life in tennis Tanzania
Absolutely! There is a lot of talent which is the main menu in all efforts to develop the sport. The current team in the association is doing a fabulous job in developing workable plans. And Tanzania is doing very well in regional tennis.
I mean there is noticeable direction in tennis development. The school tennis project is for example expected to build a strong foundation for the sport. This is good testimony that there is a working structure.
So it means we are going forward……….
Yes, and the current momentum must be kept. First coaches must be more technical and more scientific while training. If you look at the hard courts at Dar es Salaam gymkhana club for instance, the ball moves very fast. Players must be trained to become more aggressive and come more to the net other than the situation today where they play from the baseline.
Although players may lack the experience and exposure, coaches must be able to train a more aggressive approach for players to adapt easily in more competitive grounds. The association must also be strict with the coaches and draft up goals and targets for coaches to achieve.
You are currently a teacher in a tennis academy in your country. What are your dreams.
The ultimate dream is to establish my own tennis school. I have learnt a lot from the OTB Company where I work. The experience will be of great importance in a few years while I put up my own academy. Tanzania of course will be my next tennis destination abroad
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