Students leave classroom to learn lifelong sport
GREG DOWNS Today staff It’s an all-Canadian sport, and in many ways an Albertan sport. And thanks to another gold in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, enthusiasm across the country is high in the sport of curling.[...]

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If you have ever considered yourself a stellar Tennis player you may have had the idea of teaching Tennis cross your mind. The freedom and flexibility that this provides can be almost unmatched and it also provides a great excuse to play more Tennis . If you thoroughly enjoy the sport then this is the perfect thing to seriously consider. However, before you go jumping into a new career there are some things that you should take into consideration to ensure that it is a good match for you and your personal goals in life.

The first consideration is do you really like Tennis . Some people simply tolerate Tennis ; if this is you then teaching Tennis may not be the best idea. Someone who is successful at Tennis absolutely loves it and there are few things that they would rather be doing than play Tennis . This love is part of what drives the most successful trainer (instructor)s and it is also what has been known to produce the best coaches at the higher levels. Ensuring that you love Tennis is a great first step because as a teacher you will need to practice yourself, plus spend time on the court teaching others.

You should also consider your people skills. While a teacher certainly does not need to win a popularity contest based upon their individual style it is important that they at least know how to successfully talk to people. Having good people skills will ensure that not only can you teach people, but you can also gain the trust of people as well. Someone is not going to be likely to pay for an trainer (instructor) whom they dislike. It is important to treat people well in order to have students who return after the first lesson. Of course you could always have poor people skills and still attempt at teaching; however you are not likely to be very successful, have few good references and also have problems with students returning after the initial lesson.

You are also going to need to look into the certification process to become a certified teacher. This may seem frivolous if you only plan to teach occasionally, but it shows that you are dedicated to teaching the proper methods rather than simply turning someone loose on the Tennis court with a racquet and a few ball s. By being a certified teacher you can command higher rates for your time, plus you show your perspective students that you care before they have even met you.

The final thing you need to consider before taking on a new career is exactly what your skill level is. If you are just a beginner at