New Club Pro 1 Coaches

Not long ago, we were able to report on three new Club Pro 1 coaches in SouthWest Region [Read the Story]. And now there are three more : Congratulations to Emma Shea (The Club at White Oaks), Mirabella Bellavia (Rosedale TC), and Patrick Rivett (The Club at White Oaks).

They traveled to the Kingston Racquet Centre, a 6-court bubble created by Tennis Clubs of Canada and opened in October 2023. The course was held over three 3-day sessions in April, May and June. Prerequisites include a 4.5 player rating and at least 150 hours of teaching experience. It’s a big commitment!

The long drive added to the load, but the coaches found extra value in travelling to Kingston. It has broadened their network and enhanced their perspective on this vast province. The other big plus was having Arthur Cuenco as their course leader. Arthur has over 30 years of experience in coaching and related fields, and is centred in Ottawa. His mentorship and guidance were greatly appreciated.

Mirabella

Mirabella is on the coaching staff at both Rosedale TC and Ancaster TC, where she is highly valued by both Mike Kool and Mustapha Jamal. She began coaching after completing Instructor Certification in 2019. She’s also a full-time student at Wilfred Laurier University, studying Criminology along with Human Rights & Human Diversity.

Mirabella began playing tennis at Huntington Park in Hamilton, doing summer camps around the age of 5. Her parents learned of Rosedale Tennis Club as a year round tennis opportunity, which sparked interest in playing tennis in the winter and summer. From there on, Rosedale became her new home for her favourite sport, and she competed on a regular basis from ages 9 through 17.

Mira credits her earliest influences in the tennis game being the Williams sisters, but also her mother and grandmother. “All of these women influenced my love, drive and mindset towards tennis.”

“Being a tennis coach is such a rewarding job, providing the ability to give back to the place that shaped me fully as a tennis player. Seeing people play the sport that I grew up playing and fell in love with is truly an inspiration, which makes the job that much more special. I hope to be a role model and provide leadership for the Hamilton/Ancaster community, especially as a woman of colour, not only to have played the sport but coach it as well.”

Emma

Emma is the epitome of the multi-sport athlete, having been a competitive provincial gymnast for 10 years and part of a top-10 Ontario volleyball team throughout U15-U17 categories. These sports could be supported in the city of North Bay, whereas tennis could not, so Emma relocated to the Niagara Academy of Tennis in Vineland for her senior year of high school.

At Niagara Academy, a foundational coach was Walter Garcia. “He is the true definition of a coach, and inspires every player to be the best version of themselves on and off the court. He taught me the game.” Emma went on to play NCAA Division 1 tennis at Niagara University. Since graduating, she has been completing an MSc of Kinesiology (specializing in Sport Psychology) at Brock University, with sights set on a PhD. She competes on the Brock tennis team and also the squash team.

“What inspired my love for tennis was the overall complexity of the game. Tennis is often compared to a chess match, while also being as graceful as ballet, and being as aggressive as a boxing match with your opponent. The mental toughness, the determination, the passion it takes… all these things inspire my love for tennis. Being able to solve how to beat your opponent on court, while maintaining the confidence and sharpness of your own game – these challenges I love to do.”

“As a professional tennis coach, I believe in developing the whole athlete – building strong fundamentals on court while nurturing resilience, confidence and a love of the game. I strive to create an environment where athletes are supported, motivated and equipped to thrive long term.” Emma is on staff at The Club at White Oaks. As well as coaching, she is the calm-and-welcoming tournament director for OTA Rookie events that are regularly hosted there, and is a key part of Giovanni Rodriguez’ team for other events.”

Patrick

The Club at White Oaks is home-away from-home for Patrick, and those roots are deep. His mother, Michaela, began playing tennis at White Oaks herself at the age of 9! Life ultimately brought her back to Niagara Falls where she has been a coach at White Oaks since before Patrick was born. He’s been happily playing, and now coaching, on the courts since he first began to walk.

Throughout his school years, Patrick was actively engaged in Niagara Falls community life. He served as Youth Ambassador for the city’s Official Plan process and was a member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee for two years. He spearheaded “green” initiatives under the auspices of the Environmental Action Committee. He studied karate for many years, earning a black belt.

Patrick is enrolled in Engineering at Queens University, specializing in computer science.

On staff at White Oaks for the past four years, Patrick plays a key role in the Junior Tennis Program. He focuses on providing structured training, mentorship and on-court guidance tailored to various skill levels, taking pride in the progress of players in both competitive and recreational pathways.

The Club Pro 1 program was stimulating and motivating in the sharing of ideas among a variety of like-minded coaches. Patrick would like to see more such interaction and collaboration among coaches, building connections that could help serve all the players in a region.