From minority player to coach and role model
Jane talks about being a minority in football.
Date: 18 December 2020 Author: Energise Me
Isla fell in love with tennis when she was five years old. Since then, her passion for the sport has grown and grown. Now 16, she’s training to be a coach so she can share her love of the sport and inspire other girls.
When I was younger, I was very sporty. I used to do loads of activities. When I was five my school ran a taster session for tennis and I was hooked. I started going to holiday clubs and training once a week.
I used to also dance, swim and play table tennis. But tennis was the sport I was passionate about. I’ve been doing it since I was so young it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.
Tennis is a family sport for me. My mum used to play and so did my grandparents and even my great grandparents. But it wasn’t until school did the session that my brother and I knew it was for us. From there I started wanting to play tennis more and more.
At seven I started lessons and playing three/four times a week. At seven or eight I started competing and at nine I was invited to go to regional training. I played for the county cup team and Hampshire got through to the national finals.
I have been so lucky to have lots of great opportunities through tennis. Growing up, I’ve played at the county cup for every age group, met Judy Murray at a She Rallies event and even played at Wimbledon in a session with Tim Henman at 13. I think these amazing experiences have helped me stay inspired and passionate for the sport as I have grown up.
However, there hasn’t been that many female coaches along the way. There is a female coach at the tennis club I attend, Totally Tennis, but she doesn’t do junior squad training. There are female coaches at Winchester Tennis Club but so far I’ve not had training sessions with them. A lot of the more competitive and credible stuff is mostly coached by males.
There was also always a female county captain when I played. I think if there had been more female coaches in more credible coaching positions it might have given me more motivation when I was younger. It would have given me someone to aspire to be like.
I had loved tennis from an early age and wanted the kids to feel the same.
When I was 14 my club had an open event to try and promote tennis and get more children involved. I was asked to help run the sessions and had my own section and group to instruct. After I volunteered all weekend, the man running the event said to my club they should give me a job because I was really good.
I had really enjoyed it. Running sessions had boosted my confidence and I enjoyed sharing my passion with the children. I had loved tennis from an early age and wanted the kids to feel the same. That’s when I decided coaching was something I wanted to do. I started as a tennis assistant at the club. You can’t do any coaching qualifications until you’re 16 but I still could help out.
As soon as I turned 16, I did my level one qualification and I am currently in the process of doing my level two. My plan is to one day get my level five, but for now I am just grateful for the funding I have received from Energise Me that has enabled me to achieve my level 2.
For me, coaching isn’t just about yourself, it’s about other people as well. It’s about supporting and inspiring others.
It has been challenging balancing everything. I am in my first year of college, studying extended sport science, training to be a coach and still playing tennis too. My school has been really supportive. I play on the college team too, but I am the only girl in the training sessions.
Although it is at times a challenge, playing is part of who I am. I’d feel lost if I stopped playing. I am known as a tennis player.
I struggled during lockdown when I couldn’t play. I missed being active but I was lucky I could go to a field and practice a bit with my brother. It also helped that we worked together to make videos for Totally Tennis members to help kids practice.
For me coaching isn’t just about yourself, it’s about other people as well. It’s about supporting and inspiring others. Doing the videos helped me feel connected.
My main goal is just to inspire. I want to get other girls involved in the sport and share my passion.
I don’t know what I want to do when I’m older but I know it will be something to do with tennis or sport. I think that mental well-being is very important for athletes and there isn’t much access to sports psychologists, particularly female ones. So maybe that’s an option.
My main goal is just to inspire. I want to get other girls involved in the sport and share my passion.
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