• Thanks for an inspiring presentation on court in Nyborg..

    J.A
    Denmark
  • Mark is one of our leading experts in participation tennis and we are very happy to have an expert of such calibre in our team..

    Hrvoje Zmajic
    ITF/Tennis Europe Development Officer
  • May I take this opportunity to thank inspire2coach for the opportunity to do a course via distance learning. I work full time and my coaching is all volunteer work at the club. I try to attend courses when I can but sometimes find it difficult to take time off work. This opportunity has been of great help to me..

    A.O
    Merseyside
  • What a well organised event. We would highly recommend your tournaments at the University of Warwick.

    J.N
    Warwickshire
  • Mark, Thanks once again for the fantastic sessions you delivered, all three of them were of great help..

    C.L
    Staffordshire
  • I have been thoroughly impressed by the way that you and your team have operated within the Midlands.

    Van Willerton
    Tennis Operations Manager, LTA
  • My son Robbie thoroughly enjoyed the tennis camp at Alcester. He now wants to join the club. Please send our thanks to Alex, Gareth & Stu.

    N.P
    Alcester
  • Richard, Thank you for a great course, I feel inspired!!!.

    P.W
    Hampshire
  • By linking with inspire2coach we hope to offer a greater package of coaching to all of our members and the potential market within the city..

    Tim Webb, President
    Beechwood LTC
  • The course was a great success. In all the years as a development officer I have never seen so many of our coaches so excited & inspired to follow up what they have learnt..

    Helen Stevens
    Tennis Development Officer, Aspire Trust, Gloucester
  • Hi Hollie, Chantelle had a wonderful time on Tuesday. It was her first ever lesson, and is very much looking forward to the next one. :).

    M K
    Alcester TC
  • Mark was very supportive at all times and extremely professional during this course. My experiences there were very rewarding and would like to see Mark recognised not only for his technical expertise but also his encouragement.

    D.M
    London
  • Thanks for being there as a resource, Mark! Anyone interested, Mark is great to work with, a genuine stand-up kinda guy, and greatly under sold his passion in this area!.

    D.E
    USA
  • Charlie, Harry and Toby really enjoyed last weeks Tennis Camp at Beechwood thank you all for a great week!.

    J.Snape August 2011
    Beechwood LTC
  • Our partnership with inspire2coach has produced excellent results for Coventry's community tennis programme.

    Helen Kelly
    Sports Development Manager, Coventry City Council
  • Many Thanks to Penny Garbutt who did a fantastic course at the West Hants Club on Monday 7th Febuary 2011. Thanks.

    Chris Brown
    Bournemouth Gardens Tennis Club
  • Dear Penny, My son Nathan attended Kings Norton Tennis Club this week and had a very good time!!.

    M.H
    Kings Norton
  • Over the years, I have attended quite a few Coach Education Courses with Mark, and have always found them to be excellent, informative and enjoyable..

    C.T
    Spain
  • The quality of the training was superb and each of my coaches who attended cannot praise the sessions enough..

    A.S
    David Lloyd Kingshill
  • inspire2coach is an inspiring organisation, the two courses I've attended this year were a breath of fresh air, breathing common sense into Mini Tennis. Clear, concise delivery and demos provided added value and made both courses a worthwhile investment in a busy coach's time..

    K.S
    Warwickshire
  • Again thank you for a very inspiring seminar..

    R.E.
    Denmark
  • "Great course, love your philosophy towards the game and coaching!".

    T.H
    Ipswich, Suffolk
  • Hi Penny, Thanks so much for a well presented and enjoyable Schools Connections course at Clearview..

    T.P
    Essex
  • Great business is built around great people and great processes and inspire2coach are a perfect example of both..

    Ross Matheson
    Group Racquets Manager, David Lloyd
  • Thanks very much for all your work. I would have no hesitation in recommending you to other organisations.

    Russell Findlay
    Head of Community, Fulham Football Club
  • The service you have provided and are continuing to provide for Level 1 courses is excellent..

    John Love
    TDO, Middlesex Tennis
  • Thank you Mark! From the PATA Management Team, we are so appreciative and grateful for your efforts all through your Mini Tennis course at our Academy..

    Hala Shoaiyeb
    Palm Aroussy Tennis Academy, Cairo

Level 1 / Level 2 FAQs

We get asked a lot of questions about various aspects of the Level 1 and Level 2 courses. To make things easier for you, here are the answers to a few of the most common ones:

At what age can I take a Level 1 or Level 2 course?
Applicants wishing to take a Level 1 must be 16 on the first day of the course. Please do not ask us to make any exceptions, because we are not legally allowed to do so.
There is no minumum age for the Level 2 but all applicants must first have successfully completed their Level 1.

Why aren't the LTA delivering courses?
The LTA took the decision in 2009 to allow suitable External Providers such as inspire2coach to deliver the Level 1 and Level 2. The aim is to increase delivery through education and in local communities around the UK, which smaller local companies will find easier to achieve. inspire2coach is the largest provider of Level 1 and Level 2 courses in the UK, offering training in 19 counties.

I'm not a tennis player, but I'm keen to get involved. Should I book onto a Level 1?
Absolutely. We are keen to encourage parents, students, sports development staff, teachers and coaches from other sports to get involved. As long as you can commit to the course and that you have an interest in tennis, this course is for you!

How long should I leave between my Level 1 and Level 2?
There is no exact answer. Your Level 1 course tutor will talk to you during the Level 1 course and will recommend whether you should consider a Level 2 or not, and what you need to do in preparation for the course.

What if a third party is paying for my course?
All courses must be paid for prior to the start of the course. If you have secured funding or if a third party is paying for your course, you must provide inspire2coach with a purchase order to accompany your application. It is your responsibility to ensure that all fees are paid before the start of the course. You will be asked to provide details of the third party when you apply for the course.

Why is VAT added to courses?
inspire2coach is a profit-making limited company. Regulations state that VAT must be charged on all sales, including Level 1 and Level 2 courses.

What if I wanted a course near me?
inspire2coach can deliver courses anywhere in the UK. All we need is a guaranteed minimum number of suitable candidates, and we'll do the rest.

What information must I provide when applying for a Level 1 or Level 2 course with inspire2coach?
For Level 1 courses, you will need to provide:

  • a completed application form and
  • a valid CRB through the LTA which must be done through the LTA and which must be no more than one year old. From 1 September 2010 you may request a Deployment without CRB letter by emailing joe@inspire2coach.co.uk instead submitting a CRB. The Deployment letter is only valid for Level 1 applications.

For Level 2 courses, you must provide:

  • evidence that you are an LTA Registered Coach (certificate or letter/email from the LTA) or a valid CRB done through the LTA, and
  • a certificate to show that you have attended an HSE Approved 1 Day Emergency First Aid at Work Tennis First Aid course. We offer this course at £69.00 through our partnership with Impact First Aid.

Please note that Deployment without CRB letters are not valid for Level 2 applications

Information on how to pay is included in the application forms.

What if I don't get my CRB done before the start of the course?
New guidelines state that as of 1 October 2009, you must have a valid CRB done through the LTA before you apply for the course. Please email victoria.Passley@lta.org.uk for a CRB application form. If you apply without submitting your CRB certificate we will return your application and you will not be allowed onto the course. If you are worried about getting on to a particular course, we advise that you apply for your CRB in good time so that you still have a chance to get on the course you want. Times for processing CRBs vary, but usually range from 3-6 weeks.

What do I need to know about First Aid certificates?
Level 1 - A First Aid qualification is not a prerequisite for the Level 1 course.
Level 2 - Before applying for a Level 2 course you must either:

  • be a Registered Coach or must have a First Aid certificate which is no more than 3 years old, and
  • have a valid CRB done through the LTA or a signed Deployment without CRB letter.

inspire2coach has a partnership with Impact First Aid which delivers an HSE Approved 1 Day Emergency First Aid at Work Tennis First Aid course. Further details can be found at http://www.inspire2coach.co.uk/coach-education/firstaid/

How far in advance should I apply for a course?
If you see a course which you want to get on to, apply as soon as possible. Many of our courses, especially the ones in and around London, fill up very quickly. Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis, and we cannot hold applications without payment and a valid CRB.

What do I do if my preferred course is full?
Our Level 1 and Level 2 courses are extremely popular and many fill up very quickly. We have limits on the number of candidates we can accept and therefore some applicants are not able to get on the course they would like. If there is a particular course which suits you because of dates or location, we suggest you apply well in advance. If you still cannot get on the course of your choice, we are sorry, and we will either offer you a place on a waiting list (although cancellations are rare) or we will offer you a place on the next most convenient course. We cannot hold places without payment and full application requirements

Why can't I book my Level 1 or Level 2 course on the inspire2coach website?
When you apply for a Level 1 or Level 2 course, there are certain criteria which must be cross-checked against LTA systems (CRB for Level 1 courses, and either CRB and First Aid certificate or confirmation that you are a Registered Coach for Level 2). Unfortunately it is not possible for the two websites to 'speak' to each other to check the validity of application details, so the only way it can be done is through postal applications. You can, however, book your one-day courses online, and also pay for your Level 1 or Level 2 courses electronically. Details are on the course application forms.

Can I get funding towards my course with inspire2coach?
There are many different potential funding sources where grants or bursaries may be obtained to contribute towards the cost of your Level 1 or Level 2 course. Funding is not guaranteed and varies widely from county to county, and it often depends if you are lucky enough to apply before the money runs out. A quick Google search entering 'coach scholarships' or 'coach bursaries' plus the name of your county may provide you with information. Alternatively, it is sometimes worth contacting your County Sports Partnership to see if they can help. Applications for funding should be made several months before the start of the course. Please also note that you must pay the full fee for the course when you apply for your course, and that it is up to you to reclaim any grants or bursaries.