Daly-Ramdyhan leaves for Tutors Course in Antigua

- Hopes to convene workshop on return

By Rawle Welch
ITF Level 1 Tennis Coach Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan left the country last Wednesday to attend an Olympic Solidarity Tutors Course which started yesterday and concludes next Wednesday in Antigua.
Daly-Ramdyhan, who specialises in junior players development recently returned from an ITF-sponsored Worldwide Coaches Conference which was held in Spain.
Speaking with Kaieteur Sport before her departure Daly-Ramdyhan said that even though she would have liked more of the local coaches to attend the Course, the Organisers requested only one from Guyana.
Commenting on the trip to Spain, Daly-Ramdyhan informed that she is even more equipped now to impart knowledge to both players and coaches and upon her return will be organising workshops for coaches who will them communicate what was learnt to their respective charges.
“I would really like to share the vast amount of information that was gathered to all the other local coaches and this could serve to improve the level of the sport here,” Daly-Ramdyhan felt. She insisted that if coaches want to help their students, they must be willing to invest in their development and not just rely on the parent body to provide all the means.
“While I was in Spain I purchased a lot of books on Technique Development, Tennis Stroke Development and a few others related to enhancing my on knowledge of the sport and how I can improve my students as well,” Daly-Ramdyhan pointed out.
She also disclosed that apart from those materials, she additionally sought information from some of the other coaches on how she could help advance the development of players here.
The Course according to Daly-Ramdyhan was attended by 750 coaches from 100 countries where 50 speakers mostly from Spain and the ITF covered a number of topics aimed at improving the standard of the game internationally.
Among the topics covered were biomechanics of tennis, competition for players aged 10 and under, training system with high performance players, developing competencies for elite players / coaches, issues with tennis equipment and anti-doping, Talent identification, Play and Stay etc.
Among the presenters were Spain’s Davis Cup Captain Albert Costa and Australian ITF Representative Bruce Elliot.
Daly-Ramdyhan said she was now more equipped to implement the mini tennis and the play and stay programmes. She thanked all those who assisted in making her trip possible.