Team Surrey Tennis Coach
The Team Surrey Tennis Coach plays a central role in delivering high‑quality tennis opportunities to students at the University of Surrey. Reporting to the Tennis Development Officer, the coach is responsible for supporting both performance and participation tennis, working with registered squad members as well as the wider student community. The role also includes guidance and support for volunteer coaches within the programme.
The position offers approximately 10–12 hours of coaching and programme delivery per week during Semesters 1 and 2, with additional opportunities for private lessons and involvement in community and padel activities. As of the 2026/27 season, the programme supports 69 registered student players competing across BUCS, local leagues, and development competitions. Alongside performance tennis, Team Surrey delivers recreational sessions, beginner coaching, and social tennis opportunities designed to engage students of all abilities. The long‑term aim is to strengthen the performance pathway while expanding participation, ensuring tennis remains accessible, competitive, and sustainable within Team Surrey.
The programme is also expanding into padel, creating opportunities for the successful candidate to contribute to the development of both sports. The coach will help foster an environment where students can thrive, aligned with Team Surrey’s ethos of “Move | Play | Perform,” ensuring activities are adjusted to meet varying abilities, experiences, and interests.
Weekly Coaching Delivery
The coach will deliver a structured weekly programme at Surrey Sports Park, working across multiple squads and ability levels. Delivery spans beginner staff tennis, mixed‑ability recreational sessions, intermediate development squads, advanced BUCS squads, and high‑performance training groups. Sessions include a blend of cardio tennis, social tennis, technical development, tactical training, and competitive preparation. The coach will work with both men’s and women’s squads across beginner, development, advanced, and performance levels, adapting delivery to meet the needs of each group.
Session formats and squad allocations may vary across the academic year and will be agreed in advance with the Tennis Development Officer and the student committee. The coach is expected to ensure sessions remain inclusive, engaging, and aligned with Team Surrey’s performance and participation objectives.
Competition and Match Support
The coach will support BUCS competition activity where required, including match‑day coaching, warm‑ups, player preparation, and ongoing support throughout the season. Fixtures take place across both semesters, usually midweek with occasional weekend commitments.
Collaboration with the Student Club
The coach will work closely with the Team Surrey Tennis student committee to support the ongoing development of the club. This includes assisting with trials and squad selection, advising on session structures and competition preparation, contributing to the club’s coaching philosophy, and helping maintain a positive, inclusive, and high‑performing training environment.
General Administration
The coach is required to complete essential e‑learning and documentation provided by the Participation & Competition Sport Manager. All required training must be completed within the first four weeks of appointment, and the coach is expected to adhere to Team Surrey coaching policies and practices.
As the department and programme evolve, duties may change over time. The post holder is expected to adopt a flexible approach and undertake relevant training where necessary. Any significant changes to the job purpose will be discussed and reflected in an updated job description.
Team Surrey is the University of Surrey’s student sport programme, delivering opportunities for students to participate, develop, and perform across a wide range of sports. Operating under the ethos “Move | Play | Perform”, Team Surrey aims to ensure that all activity is inclusive, accessible, and appropriately adjusted to meet the needs, abilities, and interests of every student. The programme supports both recreational and competitive sport, providing pathways from beginner engagement through to high‑performance representation in BUCS and other competitive leagues.
Team Surrey works in close partnership with Surrey Sports Park, one of the UK’s leading university sport facilities. Surrey Sports Park provides world‑class courts, pitches, fitness spaces, and coaching environments that enable students to train, compete, and develop within a professional and supportive setting. The organisation also collaborates with student committees, volunteer coaches, and university departments to ensure that sport delivery is well‑structured, student‑centred, and aligned with the broader aims of the University of Surrey.
| The post holder must demonstrate the knowledge, experience, and competence required to perform effectively in this role. They should hold an LTA Tennis Level 2 qualification (Level 3 preferred) or equivalent, and possess LTA Coach Accreditation. LTA Coach Accreditation+ is desirable. The role requires a proven track record as a tennis coach, showing consistent delivery and player development. The coach should have a solid understanding of Long‑term Athlete Development principles and be able to apply these to coaching practice. They must also demonstrate awareness of inclusive and accessible tennis formats, ensuring sessions support a fully inclusive programme. Experience of coaching, managing, or playing at junior or senior international level is desirable but not essential. A valid DBS clearance is required. Core competencies include strong communication, adaptability, and teamwork, alongside effective planning and organisation. The coach should show commitment to continuous improvement, sound problem‑solving and decision‑making skills, and the ability to demonstrate leadership and management qualities when needed. They should also be capable of creative and analytical thinking, with some ability in influencing and negotiation, and a basic level of strategic awareness. Technical competency should be demonstrated at a solid intermediate level. All staff are expected to uphold the University of Surrey’s commitment to equality of opportunity and fair treatment of colleagues and students. They must contribute to a safe working environment by attending relevant Health and Safety training, following local codes of practice, and supporting the University’s Environmental Policy through responsible working habits and awareness promotion. Finally, the post holder should be willing to undertake other duties within the scope of the role as requested by their manager. |
How to apply
To apply for this role, please send your CV and a cover letter to
l.hymas@surrey.ac.uk by 23:59 GMT 06/09/2026
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