MEET THE TEAM

With over 20 years of experience as a coach and over 10 years as a tutor, Becca is well-versed in delivering high-standard coaching qualifications, workshops, and forums. Her coaching philosophy is tailored to the individual, creating challenging and engaging learning environments. Becca has a considerable coaching background in player development, working consistently with GB & Welsh National players over the last two decades, primarily focusing on the 9-14 age group. Her continued success was formally recognised in 2015 when she won Tennis Wales Performance Coach of the Year.

Becca is also a qualified LTA Mentor and prioritises both developing others and herself, constantly seeking out knowledge and expertise. This commitment places her at the cutting edge of coaching, coach development, and mentoring. In addition to her coaching and mentoring roles, Becca has been actively involved in the redevelopment of LTA qualifications and content, shaping the next generation of tennis coaches.

Becca continues to be involved in player development through her role with Tennis Wales as a 10U Pathway Coach, supporting the progression of young talent across the region.

Rob has over 20 years’ experience in a Head Tennis Coach role and over 15 years Tutoring. He was the first coach in Wales to achieve the Level 5 Master Club Coach Award and, along with this achievement, became director and founder of Vale Tennis Academy Limited. Rob and VTA’s coaching team have a passion for helping transform tennis venues into busy places to play tennis with quality tennis facilities and access to high quality tennis programmes.

In 2008 Rob became qualified as a tutor and in 2011 qualified as an LTA Coach Educator and Assessor. Since then Rob has delivered coach education programmes, qualifications and CPD courses for Tennis Wales, Inspire2Coach and The LTA. Rob is still very much a ‘front line’ tennis coach with a huge passion for the game delivering LTA Youth, Park Programmes and teaching adults from complete beginner to top club level. Rob’s current and extensive coaching experience brings coach development courses and qualifications to life by applying coaching theory into real-life examples.

In his spare time Rob is a keen tennis player. He still plays for his local team Penarth LTC and holds the club’s record for the most Men’s Singles titles and the most consecutive singles titles won. Both records previously stood for over 100 years! His other playing highlights include representing South Wales for 5 years in the County O35s Veterans team and in 2019 he had the honour of playing for Wales in the O35s Home Nations.

Lucy is a Level 4 coach and coach education tutor, and is currently North Wales County captain for the U12 and U14 girls’ teams. Lucy has been a tutor for over 10 years and has delivered on a wide range on courses for different providers. Lucy’s coaching philosophy is through a person-centred approach and creating learning and challenging environments for players.

Lucy has been involved in tennis for over 20 years, having started as a junior and competed for Wales and North Wales at both junior and senior age groups, and the GB Universities student team. Lucy competed internationally, attended the University of New Mexico on a tennis scholarship and was world ranked as a junior.

Lucy has held senior leadership positions in sport including as Chief Executive Officer at the Welsh Judo Association, Vice-Chair of the Tennis Wales Board and Chair of the North Wales committee. Lucy is currently a Trustee at the Sports Council Trust Company and a Trustee at Wrexham Tennis Centre. Lucy previously managed the national facilities at the Football Association of Wales and has also managed some of the largest indoor tennis centres in the UK. Lucy was also Head Tennis Coach at Durham University, where the university became one of the most successful tennis programmes in the UK.

Rob has been a full-time coach since 2006. He began his career at Abergavenny Tennis Club where he developed his coaching practice and wider team/business to one which operated at 4 venues, won 2 National awards for its impact in the tennis community, grew membership to record levels and helped players progress into the County teams year-on-year, where two progressed to Tennis Europe events.

He is now Head Coach at Windsor LTC Penarth and Co-director at Tennis Squad whose remit includes the management of 13 venue programmes including Clubs, Parks, 10U Performance, Disability, Padel, Pickleball, and a Competition Programme from Local to National level. Two of these venues hold the flagship LTA Youth Recognised Venue status, the first of four in the UK.

Having commenced his tutoring qualifications in 2021, Rob delivers several tennis qualifications and CPD Courses and is the Tennis Wales ‘Disability Champion’ from his experience as Chair of the Cardiff Stars Tennis Club.

Rob is also an EMCC-qualified Coach Mentor, ABTO R3 Referee and Padel Instructor. He is passionate about sharing his experience with others and supporting learners at all levels to fulfil their career goals.

Ellie is the Co-Director of Tennis Squad, a company dedicated to providing coaching and competition programmes across South Wales. In her current role, Ellie is responsible for the development of the workforce, including coaches, assistants, volunteers, and young people working at various tennis venues. She also leads the U10 performance programme, one of only two in Wales, and serves as the Head Coach of Radyr LTC.

With over 20 years of experience in tennis, Ellie has worked in various roles, including coaching, performance tennis, and venue development. She has extensive experience working with the National Governing Body, Tennis Wales, and has delivered numerous coach education programmes. Ellie was instrumental in creating the Tennis Wales Coach Development Centre, successfully becoming one of only 12 approved providers across Great Britain.

Ellie’s coaching philosophy is grounded in creating a person-centred approach that emphasizes both learning and challenge. She believes in fostering a development-focused environment where players can push themselves to grow, while receiving the guidance and support they need to reach their full potential.

With over 15 years of coaching experience, Rhys works with players of all levels – from complete beginners to some of the top-ranked junior players in Wales. Alongside his coaching, Rhys is an Associate Tutor at Cardiff Metropolitan University, teaching on the Applied Sports Pedagogy module. He is also an LTA Youth Schools Tutor, bringing extensive experience in delivering tennis sessions in both primary and secondary school settings.

Rhys is passionate about creating a fun and engaging learning environment that enables candidates to develop their coaching skills and knowledge of the game. Outside of tennis, he enjoys a variety of other sports, including golf, snooker, pool and padel.

Nick is a highly experienced coach educator with over four decades in padel and tennis. As Head of Coach Education at The Padel School, he has worked with coaches across the UK, Europe, and beyond to build their skills and understanding of the game. He has a passion for helping coaches from a wide range of sporting backgrounds transition into padel coaching, contributing significantly to the sport’s rapid growth.

In addition to his coach education work, Nick is actively involved in player development. He runs coaching clinics and padel holidays and oversees junior programmes, providing opportunities for players of all levels to improve their game both in the UK and abroad. This approach reflects his commitment to growing padel as an accessible and exciting sport for everyone.

Nick has also made a significant impact on the coaching community through his work in designing qualifications. He has co-authored key programmes, including the LTA Padel Instructor and LTA Tennis Coach certifications, and regularly trains and mentors tutors to ensure high standards in education. Representing Wales in international padel competitions, Nick brings the same energy and dedication to the court as he does to his coaching.

Guided by a belief in creating positive learning environments, Nick encourages coaches and players to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and celebrate progress on their journey to success.

With over 20 years of experience as a coach and over 15 years as a tutor, Vicki has delivered high-standard coaching qualifications, workshops, and forums across the UK. Vicki’s coaching philosophy is based on the individual learner, and she tailors her approach to enable and engage the learner’s needs.

Vicki has an extensive background in player development. Her roles include Head Coach at Mold Tennis Club, Ruthin Tennis Club and currently Wrexham Lawn Tennis Club. Previously she was a County Performance Officer for North Wales, working with Welsh and British national level players whilst also developing players from grass roots through community development programmes.

Vicki has managed coaching teams in all venues, and her passion for developing quality coaches led her to work previously for Tennis Wales as the Coach Education Manager.

Vicki also believes in developing tennis as a game and delivers high quality tournaments as a fully qualified LTA Official to provide opportunities for players to compete.

Her continued success was formally recognised in 2009 when she won Tennis Wales Coach of the Year, and in November 2009 when she won LTA Coach of the Month.

Vicki continues to work with County players as a North Wales county captain and still competes herself for Wales and North Wales.