| How to Become a Teaching Pro, Part III | |
Continued from Page One:
Benefits
- Getting paid to play. The majority of your lessons might give you no chance to really play at all, but you'll probably, at some point each day, get an advanced student or two with whom it will be your job to do some full-speed hitting.
- Plenty of exercise. Unlike your office-bound friends, you won't have to worry about squeezing in some physical activity each day.
- Being in the business of providing fun. If you're a decent teacher, you'll be trying to help people have fun all day, even while you're giving them serious instruction. You'll generally see people at their happiest, especially if you're good
at minimizing frustration.
- Enjoyable students. You might not look forward to seeing every single one of your students, but you'll probably be amazed at how many interesting, funny people you get to spend your day with.
- Autonomy. Some teaching jobs give you almost complete autonomy, while at others, you'll be closely monitored. If you're a talented teacher, you'll be able to find a job that gives you the level of autonomy you want.
- Continuous learning about tennis. If you enjoy learning, being in the tennis profession won't keep you from satisfying that urge. The best tennis pros seek a thorough understanding of the how and why of the game, delving into physics, biomechanics, psychology, nutrition, physiology, educational theory, and bits of numerous other disciplines. As you learn to be a better teacher, you'll also become a smarter player.
