COACHING EXCELLENCE – CLUB
This award recognises coaches who work within their local communities. The coach provides quality coaching programs, is actively involved in growing the game and provides competition opportunities for players to progress their game.
The 2023 finalists are:
Theadora Kiparoglou (Prospect Tennis Club): Kiparoglou offers a full spectrum of coaching opportunities as Head Coach at Prospect Tennis Club. With the motto of ‘Tennis For Everyone’, she is passionate about inclusivity and diversity, providing a safe and welcoming space for all to play. Kiparoglou is a key contributor to the community and works hard to create a pathway for players to transition from coaching to playing tennis for the club.
Craig Mousley (Golden Grove Tennis Club): Mousley has been Head Coach at Golden Grove Tennis Club for 30 years. His coaching program offers a clear pathway for players of all abilities, with significant participation growth demonstrated in recent years. His efforts extend off-court as Club President, with the creation of an inclusive environment at the forefront of Craig’s vision for the club.
Helen Rice (Denman Tennis Club): Rice is the Club Coach at Denman Tennis Club, along with Bellevue Heights and Netherby Tennis Clubs. She has built strong relationships with six local schools and has a clear transition pathway in place to ensure retention from junior coaching and competition through to senior competition. Rice is passionate about the pathway for women in the sport and is a board member for the Women’s Tennis Foundation.
COACHING EXCELLENCE – DEVELOPMENT
The Talent Development coach is instrumental in developing successful high performance tennis players. The recipient of this award is delivering a quality, comprehensive, holistic coaching program.
The 2023 finalists are:
Domenic Marafiote (East Torrens Kensington Gardens Tennis Club): Marafiote has created a program ‘committed to excellence and focused on development’ for athletes moving through to the high performance environment. His efforts to develop a clear athlete development pathway has seen athletes reach and perform with great success on the national and international stage. Marafiote is passionate about coach education and has delivered a variety of performance workshops.
Jim Chaousis (Seacliff Tennis Club): Chaousis is the Head Coach at Seacliff Tennis Club, building a program that has seen players transition from Tennis Hot Shots through to club tennis and on to performance at a national and international level. Chaousis is passionate about instilling values of independence and responsibility in his athletes, a philosophy that has seen players perform admirably at the elite level.
Sam Wall (Coromandel Valley Tennis Club): Wall has created an environment with a variety of coaching opportunities to help players reach their full potential. He supports athletes with tailored programs to put them in the best position to reach their goals and create the right game style for them as an individual. As Club Coach at Coromandel Valley Tennis Club, Wall helps to coordinate junior and senior teams, creating a pathway from coaching to club tennis.
COACHING EXCELLENCE – RURAL
This award recognises coaches who operate primarily out of clubs and associations eligible for Foundation Cup. The coach provides quality coaching programs, is actively involved in growing the game and provides competition opportunities for players to progress their game.
The 2023 finalists are:
Sarah-Jane Albrecht (Barmera Tennis Club): Albrecht provides Tennis Hot Shots, junior and Cardio Tennis programs at Barmera Tennis Club, focussing on the development of orange and green ball players, as well as ensuring that there is a pathway in place to support the progression of all players. She offers a squad training once a month for junior players wishing to further develop their skills.
Sam Clayson (Northern Yorke Peninsula Tennis Association, Blyth, Clare, Cunliffe, Hilltown and Watervale Tennis Clubs): Clayson coaches at a variety of clubs across the Northern Yorke Peninsula and Clare and Districts regions providing a pathway from Tennis Hot Shots through to adult coaching. He also delivers occasional coaching clinics at more rural clubs and schools, ensuring that there are opportunities for all to participate.
John Pick (Renmark Tintra Lawn Tennis Club): Pick is passionate about tennis in the Riverland and creating opportunities for participants to play the sport. He provides a wide variety of junior coaching programs, with a focus on engaging underrepresented groups. He has developed well established relationships with schools in the area, ensuring that players transition to tennis at their local club.
The award winners will be announced at the Tennis SA Gala Dinner to be held at The Drive on Saturday 29 April.
> READ: Finalists announced ahead of Tennis SA Gala Dinner
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