CLUB PRO 1 Graduates

“Being someone’s coach is an important responsibility that requires proper training and education. Teaching a sport is not only about technique and physical abilities, it’s also about building a player’s self-confidence and prioritizing their well-being.” These are the opening words for the section about coaching on Tennis Canada’s new website.

We have as many as 100 individuals working as tennis coaches and instructors throughout SouthWest Region, and a goal is to have everyone certified and in a position to advance as professionals to the best of their ability.

This requires a substantial commitment on the part of each individual coach, and the very good news is that interest in pursuing higher levels of certification is stronger than ever. Andrew Chappell organizes registration and logistics for the courses from the OTA office, and is adding extra sessions to meet the demand.

This photo features the candidates for Club Pro 1 as it started early this year. To qualify, a coach requires a 4.5 playing level and 150 hours of teaching experience, and is willing to commit to 9 days of training over a period of three months. Costs include course fees as well as lost income and travel expenses.

Accordingly, it’s with the greatest of pleasure that we acknowledge and celebrate the three SouthWest Region coaches who successfully graduated from this program : Diana Mirceta (Rosedale TC), Ray Sivakumar (Niagara Academy of Tennis) and Soner Ariburnu (Ancaster TC).

To add to the accolades, all three have embarked on the Club Pro 2 program. This involves a playing level of 5.0, two years experience at a year-round facility (or 5 years at a seasonal club), and 16 days of training over the course of the 12-month program. Each of our coaches has spoken about the network connections developed throughout these programs, and the value of the support they provide to each other.

Diana

Diana Mirceta is currently on the team at Rosedale TC in Hamilton, where she began playing tennis at age 9, and works alongside her longtime coach and mentor, Mike Kool. She became an NCAA Division 1 athlete, playing for Jacksonville State University and earning a BSc in Biology with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She also has a Masters in Human Biology from the University of Copenhagen and a BEd from York University. Diana coaches part-time at the Boulevard Club in Toronto and teaches with the Toronto DSB.

Asked about her approach to coaching, Diana had this to say : I am passionate about building confidence in young athletes, particularly girls, and hope to be the kind of female coach I rarely saw growing up. My coaching philosophy is inspired by the mentorship I received during my junior years from my own coach, whose support helped shape me both as a player and a person. My ultimate goal is to empower the next generation of players to see coaching not only as a path to athletic success, but as a meaningful way to lead, give back, and build lifelong connections through sport.

Congratulations, Diana!

Ray

Ray Sivakumar is a new graduate from McMaster University, completing a Health Sciences degree which provided a strong foundation in the physiological and cognitive advantages of racquet sports like tennis.

Ray has been coaching at the Niagara Academy of Tennis in Vineland for 7 years, and currently serves as the Junior and Adult Program Coordinator. He is deeply committed to fostering competitive tennis in the Niagara Region and introducing children to the lifelong benefits of the sport.

As a junior player, Ray achieved a ranking of #3 in Nova Scotia and #5 in Atlantic Canada. He has competed in ITF tournaments across India and Canada, and was a leading member of the McMaster Marauders tennis team, recognized as MVP in his second year.

Congratulations, Ray!

Soner

Soner Ariburnu has 25 years of coaching experience in Canada and in Turkey. He achieved a Level 3 certification with the Turkish Tennis Federation, and coached Turkey’s first Paralympic player at the 2008 Beijing Games as well as athletes who competed in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. He helped develop U12 and U14 athletes for the Turkish National Team. As a player, he competed in the Turkish University Tennis League 1.

Here in Canada, Soner has been part of the team at Niagara Academy of Tennis, as well as the ACE Tennis team at the Hillfield-Strathallen location. He is now very happily settled at the Ancaster TC, working alongside Mustapha Jamal : “Soner has an innate ability to connect with everyone who walks through the gates of the club. He always has a smile, and is able to impart his tennis wisdom using his contagious enthusiasm and passion for the club, its people and the sport of tennis.”

Soner has attended numerous ITF coaching seminars and is passionate about coach education. He aims to contribute to the growth of Canadian tennis through inclusive and performance-based coaching.

Congratulations, Soner!