Advantage D&C – Coach & Official Support – Durham & Cleveland Tennis

Advantage Durham & Cleveland - Coach and Official Support Scheme

Coach and Official Support Scheme

The LTA has structured pathways in place for developing coaches and for training officials to assist at tournaments. The coaching programme covers every stage from a Level 1 Assistant to developing players at an elite standard with the Level 5 Master Club Coach qualification. The Officials training scheme covers Competition Organiser, Court Supervisor, Tennis Referee and Umpire.

Highly-trained and well-qualified coaches are vital to the health and growth in participation of tennis across Durham & Cleveland. In recognition of this, both the County through its Advantage D&C scheme and the LTA in partnership with their training provider, Court Craft, are keen to offer financial support to people of all ages and experience who want to either begin training to become tennis coaches, or to extend their knowledge and capabilities and progress to higher qualifications.

Full details of the Advantage D&C scheme can be found below, together with the application form and procedure for applying. Details of the LTA Court Craft Inclusion Grant Funding 2026 scheme and how to apply can be found here. This scheme is targeted particularly to support coaches from under-represented groups including female, ethnically diverse and disabled.

Advantage Durham & Cleveland recognizes the importance of encouraging players and parents to take up coaching and/or provide support at tournaments around the county, and seeks to support them as they start that journey. The expense of the training courses can be a barrier for people who would otherwise be keen to get more involved, and we want to remove that barrier. The Coach and Official Support Scheme will financially assist Clubs and venues which share that outlook and are willing to financially support their members to qualify as coaches at Assistant (L1), Instructor (L2) and Tennis Coach (L3), or as Referees.

*Qualification*	*Course Days*	*Time Period*	*Typical Cost*
Level 1 Assistant	3	6 wks	£ 275
Level 2 Tennis Instructor	5	2-3 mths	£ 450
Level 3 Tennis Coach		6-9 mths	£ 1,200
Competition Organiser	1	1 day	£ 25
Court Supervisor	1	1 day	Free
Tennis Referee	2	3 days	£ 75

Coach and Official Support Scheme - Criteria

- A maximum of £1,500 will be available for coach and official grant support in any one year
- Clubs must apply to and receive approval from Advantage Durham & Cleveland for a grant or loan before an applicant signs up for a course. The grant will be 50% of the cost of the coaching course for L1 and L2 applicants, 25% of the cost of the coaching course and an interest-free loan of up to 50% of the cost for L3 applicants, or 100% of the cost of the officials’ course.
- In the case of L1 and L2 applicants the Club will fully fund the course, and have a written agreement with the individual committing them to provide ‘payment in kind’ recompense to the Club in the form of an agreed number of hours (minimum 15 hours) of voluntary on-court coaching support within 6 months of completing the coaching qualification, or a commitment to voluntarily officiate at no fewer than two club tournaments in the year.
- In the case of L3 applicants the Club will fund 25% of the course cost with a grant, and have a written agreement with the individual committing them to provide ‘payment in kind’ recompense to both the Club and the County in the form of an agreed number of hours (minimum 25 hours) of voluntary on-court coaching support within 12 months of completing the coaching qualification.

Coach and Official Support Scheme – Process

A senior member of your Club Committee (Chairman, Treasurer, etc) should contact D&C LTA (Anne Clayton, Workforce Lead at workforce@dclta.org to discuss your proposal.
You complete an Advantage D&C Coach & Official Application Form
For Level 3 Tennis Coach applicants, also complete the Advantage D&C Coach Loan Application Form
Advantage Durham & Cleveland will assess the application and, subject to it meeting the criteria and there being funds available in the period, will confirm approval.
Advantage Durham & Cleveland will repay to the Club 50% (L1 and L2 coaching) or 100% (Official) of the cost of the course on written confirmation from the Club that the course has been completed, certificate received and coach accreditation (for L2 Tennis Instructor) or Officials License with the LTA completed.
In the case of L3 coaching applicants the Club will pay the 25% grant to the applicant immediately and the County will make the agreed interest-free loan payment of up to 50% of the course cost immediately. The final grant payment from the County of 25% of the course cost will be paid to the applicant on confirmation of successful completion of the course.