Head Coach
Matt Reid – Matt joined Latika as a junior member in 1989 when the club was based at Bull Lane and progressed to become the Under-18 Boys champion in 1998. He started his coaching career by assisting the previous coach in 1997 and is now licensed LTA club coach and LTA senior performance coach. Won Coach of the Year 2016 award from LTA Berkshire.
Matt Reid
Assistant Coach
Trudi Machin – Trudi started at Latika as a volunteer in 2007. She progressed into coaching obtaining LTA level 3 cerftificate in 2012. Now assistant coach at Latika.
Trudi started at Latika as a volunteer in 2007. She progressed into coaching obtaining LTA level 3 cerftificate in 2012. Now assistant coach at Latika.
The club encourages some of its older junior members to help out with the club’s coaching programme.
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Coaching Assistants 2020
Players showing potential are filtered into a squad development programme run by our head coach, Matt Reid. Spaces are limited and by invitation only.
Fast Track Squads are aimed at improving speed and developing skills.
Performance Squads aim to give more individual attention in squads no bigger then four players.
View how the development programme is implemented within the club:
– Club Development Programme Part 1 (click on the thumbnail below)
– Club Development Programme Part 2 (click on the thumbnail below)
One hour sessions cost £5 and one and half hour sessions £6. We have a discount voucher scheme which is exclusively for members. Information will be given at the time of processing your membership.
All coaching staff, assistants and committee members are DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service, former CRB) checked and have attended appropriate first aid training.
The club offers coaching every Saturday morning between 9:00 and 14:30.
The children are organised by ability into the following groups:
09:00 – 10:00 Red beginner Tennis balls
10:00 – 11:00 Red Improver Tennis Balls
11:00 – 12:00 Orange/Green Tennis Balls
12:00 – 13:00 Yellow Tennis Balls
13:00 – 14:30 Top Squad Yellow Tennis Balls
The focus of the Saturday coaching is learning through fun.
Mini Tennis provides the perfect introduction to the sport for children aged between 3 and 10.
Use the power of sport to help your children to develop in an inclusive and structured environment, where they can learn and grow through Mini Tennis.
The Mini Tennis programme allows the sport to be accessible to young children. The smaller courts and equipment combined with lower-bouncing balls help to produce a platform for young people to get to grips with the game and develop a love for the sport.
Mini Tennis is split into four stages:
Tots: 3-5 years – Learn the basics
Red: 5-8 years – Serve, rally and score
Orange: 8-9 years – Develop a rounded game
Green: 10 years – Put your skills to the test
At each stage, the game is tailored to fit different age groups with different sized courts and balls. This will allow your child to develop in a fun focused learning environment where they are surrounded by players of a similar ability as well as being able to make new friends who are of similar age.
Latika’s Development Structure
| Session | Age | Days and Times | Description |
| Mini Tennis Tots | Parent and child | Saturday 9:00am at Jocks Lane | This phase teaches children between the ages of three and five how to enjoy the game through a series of fun activities with the aim of improving their balance, co-ordination, agility, movement, and racket and ball skills, all under the helpful umbrella of the parent assistance. |
| Mini Tennis Red | 5-8 | Saturday 9:00 + 10:00 am & Wednesday 5:00pm | Players learn to serve, rally and score with a slow ball, as well as learning the movement and co-ordination skills needed for tennis. Players are encouraged to play fun competitions in teams and as individuals, with short matches using tie-break scoring. |
| Mini Tennis Orange | 8-9 | Saturday 11am & Wednesday 5:00pm | Mini Tennis Orange is a great way for players to continue their progress from Mini Tennis Red and is for players aged eight and nine. Players develop a rounded game learning a range of techniques and tactics. Courts are bigger and wider than the red stage but still smaller than full-size tennis courts. There are team and individual competitions with matches using tie-break scoring. |
| Mini Tennis Green | 9-10 | Saturday 11:00 pm & Wednesday 6:00pm | This is for 10-year-olds who are ready to test their skills on a full-size court. Our approach to helping children into the sport makes it far easier for them to develop their skills and progress with their tennis. Participating in Mini Tennis will be beneficial for your children on many levels. Their confidence will grow as they progress through the stages. They’ll get all the benefits of regular physical activity too, their work on the court will help them to keep fit, healthy and happy. They’ll learn the fair play values of tennis as well – these encourage good behaviour and sportsmanship. |
| Yellow Ball | 11-18 | Saturday 12-1pm | This phase is generally for 11 years + on a full court with traditional yellow balls. Yellow ball players will train within the five in game situations of tennis and develop a more in depth understanding of tactics and game styles. |
| Invitational Squads | All ages | Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday | Our Invitational squads are for children who show desire and aptitude to improve and begin playing tournaments within the club. Squad players are more serious about training and are starting to compete externally and or are competing regularly. Invitational squads follow a progressive set of lesson themes covering all court situations and tactical intentions involved in tennis. Invitational squads are a great motivator and developer for children who want to progress from group coaching. The coaching will involve technical and tactical feedback along with information on competition. |
| Tennis Camps | 4+ | Most half terms and holidays | Our junior tennis camps run during most school holidays. The camps are a perfect way for junior players to stay active during the school break. Camps involve coaching, fun games and individual and team competition. |
| Competition | 7-18 | All year round | Whether you are just starting on your Mini Tennis journey or have been playing for a few years Mini Red, Orange and Green competitions offer lots of opportunities for you to get involved in fun and enjoyable competition.
Please see our notice board for details of upcoming events. |
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