Auckland coaches add to Western Bay tennis development

The arrival of two more professional coaches is a major boost to the development of tennis in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Paul Bell and Paul Arnott have worked together at the Eden Epsom Tennis and Squash Club in Auckland for the past five years and start work at their new clubs on September 12.

Bell is the new head coach at Otumoetai with Bell taking over at Mount Maunganui in what is regarded as a serious boost to the growing popularity of the sport in the region.

Both coaches played competitive tennis in England before arriving in New Zealand.

They are excited about making a real difference in tennis coaching and development.

Bell is from Exeter in Devon and has 25 years' coaching experience. He was a national junior and senior county player in England while Arnott hails from Maidenhead in Berkshire and was a junior county player.

"It is a new challenge at a bigger club and just a different lifestyle," Bell said.

"During the last five years Paul and I have created one of the best coaching programme models in Auckland.

"We will both bring exciting new programmes for hotshots (juniors), cardio fitness for adults and tennis express for adult beginners.

"To get good coaches here and get good programmes from age five onwards is very important."

Arnott says the template they have been running in Auckland has been successful.

"We are very keen to create run that here as well and we think it will be very good for the clubs.

"Also having the court space here. Paul and I have been a little bit restricted in Auckland having just six courts so having nine and 12 courts at both clubs is going to be a big success.

"I am really excited going into the Mount and looking for a fresh start actually. New people and both clubs have got fantastic facilities and it will also be nice to come to a club that is tennis only."

The coaches are keen to build close relationships with the other clubs in the region.

"We are looking forward to working with the other clubs. I think that is the way forwards that clubs work together," Arnott said.

"There are not a huge amount of that Auckland unfortunately and both Paul and I are very pro-active so we are keen to share new ideas and see what the other clubs are keen to do as well."

Otumoetai Tennis president Warwick Brew has been involved in tennis for 40 years.

He says the arrival of two new coaches means there is now a professional coach involved with all nine clubs in the new Western Bay association.

"We already had some top level coaches but now we have all the clubs covered. It is very important as it is impossible to develop tennis without professional coaches," Brew said.

"It is coaching from all levels from the (juniors) hot shots right up to the elite players."

Otumoetai and Mount Maunganui tennis clubs are holding an open day on Saturday September 17 from 10am - 4pm. Everyone welcome.