Gloucester Tennis instructor named national Coach of the Month

A Tennis Coach at Gloucester’s Oxstalls Sports Park has been given the impressive accolade of Aegon Coach of the Month by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Steven Wigg was selected by the LTA Coaching Team as the tennis coach with the greatest impact on British Tennis in October.

Talking about his award, Steven said: “Winning the Aegon Coach of the Month means a great deal to me. It was a huge honour just to be nominated! I’d like to thank all of the staff, coaches and players at Oxstalls Sports Park for their daily support and commitment.”

Steven was nominated for his commitment and valued input to the ever-increasing range of tennis programmes offered at Oxstalls Sports Park. He delivers coaching to over 100 children each week through the Mini Red, Orange, Green and Junior Development and Performance programmes.

Alongside his work with children, Steven also runs the adult beginners and improvers’ sessions as well as Cardio Tennis, short tennis for over 50s and social sessions.

Steven has also done a huge amount of work in Gloucester schools and universities; taking tennis into 11 primary schools, a secondary school, Gloucester College and the University of Gloucester. He has also run two LTA teacher training courses, giving 42 teachers the skills to be able to teach tennis classes at their schools.

Oxstalls Sports Park’s Tennis Performance Officer Darren Morris said: “Steve’s commitment and dedication to delivering the best coaching session every time he steps on court is exceptional. His dedication to increasing tennis participation has driven numbers through the centre but also retains players for many years.”

Steven has coached at Oxstalls Sports Park since leaving University in 2007 and has seen the club go from strength to strength, including winning the British Tennis Club of the Year in 2011.

Speaking about his role at Oxstalls, he said: “It is the huge variety that I enjoy about my job but it is also the immense reward you get from seeing a 5 year old hit the ball for the first time, a player competing in their first match or someone coming in having dusted off their racket and rediscovering their love for our sport.

“I hope to continue improving as a coach and also to further the development of Oxstalls Sports Park!”

To find out more about the courses and facilities available at Oxstalls Sport Park visit their website at www.oxstalls.org.uk

Oxstalls Sports Park
Darren.Morris@aspiretrust.org.uk
01452 396969