MATT HEALY
Our latest Coach of the Quarter is Matt Healy! We head to Surbiton to chat with Matt during one of his sessions about his coaching philosophy and journey in the sport.
QUESTION: You’ve been part of Surbiton Tennis Club for nearly a decade now, what has made it such a special place for you?
ANSWER: I have been here since April 2016 and it’s flown by. Surbiton is a special place to work and for all the members. It’s hard to explain as everyone loves the way Surbiton feels, which is huge credit to all the members of staff that have created this environment. For me it’s about creating a sense of belonging and an enjoyable atmosphere at Surbiton for the players, members and the staff.
"For me, it’s about creating a sense of belonging and an enjoyable atmosphere for everyone at Surbiton"
QUESTION: Can you tell us a bit about your own journey in tennis? How did you first get into coaching?
ANSWER: I played tennis to a decent club level as well as other sports like football and basketball throughout my teens. I stumbled into coaching really when I was around 15 or 16, working as a leader (tennis assistant) at Parklangley. I then found that I really enjoyed coaching and wanted to pursue a coaching career. Back then you couldn’t do an LTA coach qualification until you were 18, I believe. So I went down a different avenue to gain a qualification to coach, which was the USPTR system. They allowed me to attend the course at 17. Once I passed, this enabled me to coach. Parklangley then offered me hours at 17 and that was me on the road to coaching. I spent 13 years at Parklangley before moving to the HPC Chiswick Riverside for 3 years and have now spent nearly 10 years at Surbiton.
QUESTION: How has your approach to getting the best out of players evolved over the years?
ANSWER: At the start of my coaching journey, I focused heavily on technique. But over time, I’ve realised how important confidence, mindset and resilience are in performance. Every player is different, with different personalities and challenges, so my approach is now much more about creating an environment where they can grow, compete and enjoy the process.
QUESTION: Surbiton has a real sense of community. How have you built those close connections with players, parents, and fellow coaches over the years?
ANSWER: Surbiton has an amazing sense of community. This was created before my time at the club, it’s still here now and will be forever. How have I added to this? I strongly believe in creating a sense of belonging, being approachable, open, honest and having empathy. These, I believe, are the key factors in creating great connections with people.
QUESTION: You’re known for your relaxed and friendly coaching style. How important do you think it is for players to enjoy themselves?
ANSWER: My coaching style mimics me as a person, but I am aware you have to create an environment where players understand the boundaries of enjoying themselves on court. Create an environment where players enjoy being there to work hard and put in their best efforts to be the best they can be. This also goes for the parents as well; they have to enjoy the journey and the environment their child is part of. At Surbiton we are amazing at creating that balance.
"Players have to be tough to beat, fearless and brave all the time — we’re in it together!"
QUESTION: What’s your favourite part of a typical coaching day at Surbiton?
ANSWER: There isn’t really a favourite part of a typical day at Surbiton as each day is unique. But my favourite period to coach at Surbiton is the spring into summer season. Surbiton in the summer is the best club in the UK, maybe the world. All the grass courts are open, all the courts are being used including the padel courts now, and the coaching programme after school creates a hive of activity. Then you finish work and the sun is still beaming, the decking is full of people soaking up the sunshine and enjoying watching some tennis on the grass courts. Where else would I rather be?
QUESTION: Have there been any standout moments or success stories from your time at the club that you’re particularly proud of?
ANSWER: Over the years there have been so many success stories that I’m proud of. From a performance level, it started with being awarded LPDC status when the LTA Performance Network restructured. In the past 5 years we’ve seen players start attending County Training, representing their county for County Cup events, getting selected for Regional Training and then going on to attend National Training and camps. We have also had two players represent GB in that period as well, with one of them winning the 10U Nationals and the other a finalist this year in the 10U National event. Being consistent over a number of years in the performance landscape is something I am extremely proud of.
QUESTION: How do you strike the balance between developing players’ skills and keeping sessions enjoyable?
ANSWER: and the skills that players need to have when they compete is fundamental for all players. Tennis has become an all-court game at the top level. We would like our players to start having those skills as early as they can. That’s what makes tennis so unique to coach — the array of skill development and then trying to take that onto the match court and compete against an opponent. Players have to try to be tough to beat, fearless and brave all the time! It’s tough, but we’re in it together!
QUESTION: The coaching team at Surbiton seems really close-knit, what do you think makes that dynamic work so well?
ANSWER: We have created an enjoyable place for coaches to work. We want the players to enjoy being at Surbiton as that makes coaches enjoy their work. We always try to reflect on what we can or could do better. Each coach understands their role within the coaching programme and how important it is for the bigger picture. We want coaches to excel and develop just as much as the players and the programme.
QUESTION: Finally, what’s the best piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out in tennis, whether as a player, parent or coach?
ANSWER: Player – Play tennis for your future self, don’t hold back. Winning and losing tennis matches doesn’t define who you are, it’s how you compete that does!
Parent – Enjoy the journey with your child! Have a long-term approach. You’re in this for the long term, not the short term.
Coach – Listen more, try to have an open, non-judgemental mindset and be brave enough to go out of your comfort zone.
By Surrey Tennis
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