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Head Coach
Leigh Chapman
Coaching experience
I started coaching tennis in the late 1990s and became Head Coach at Gisborne Tennis Club in 2005. I am a qualified Club Professional Coach and have now been coaching players of different ages and levels for more than 25 years.
I still really enjoy seeing players develop their skills, grow in confidence and become more comfortable getting out on court and playing the game themselves.
Coaching style
I aim to create a positive and supportive environment where players feel safe to try, make mistakes and keep learning.
Rather than always telling players what to do, I like to use activities, questions and feedback that encourage them to explore, problem-solve and gradually develop a better understanding of their own game. I try to provide the right level of challenge for each player while keeping tennis enjoyable and giving them plenty of opportunity to actually play.
As a player
My strengths as a player were consistency, competitiveness and endurance. I was definitely a grinder — I competed hard and tried not to give my opponent an easy point.
Favourite player
Stefan Edberg. I loved watching Edberg when I was growing up. His serve-and-volley game and one-handed backhand were fantastic, but I also admired how calm he was on court and the way he carried himself.
