FAQ's
Find the answers to your questions about frequently asked topics in this section below. Please do feel free to email us with any further queries, or if you require any further information.
FULL TIME PLAYERS
Q. What procedures and guidelines do you put in place to ensure the safety and well being of your players?
A. We take our players health, safety and well being with extreme importance, and so we have several procedures in place. These are covered in a couple of ways:
1. General: The coaches and staff that train, coach, monitor, mentor and surround our students, are of the highest qualification, with H&F safety training, sports specialist first aid training, and CRB checks on top of their own qualifications. All documents and certificates can be provided if required. Please take a look at our Management team section for further details.
2. Physical: All players have periodic fitness testing and medical screening on top of their specifically designed regular weekly exercise, fitness and training sessions and nutritional advice provided by our Head of Sports Science. This ensures that all aspects of development, including injury prevention and specific pre-session pre-hab/remedial exercises, are catered for. If a player is injured and advised not to play, they will be placed on a suitable programme of rehabilitation instead of regular training. Please see our Performance / Sports Science page, and our Head of Sports Science's biography in the Management Team section for further information.
3. HealthCare: We have strong links with a highly recommended and respected local Physiotherapist who our students see regularly and when required. There is also a high standard doctors surgery that we recommend all players attend if required. Both of these facilities are 2 minutes off site, and an STA team member will attend with the player. Sun protection is required for all players in the form of sun block and appropriate clothing as set out in the players equipment section of the Rules and Regulations in the Registration Form.
4. Security: Sotogrande itself is in a gated community with security guards at each entrance/exit. At all times whilst on the facility, the players are supervised by adults from STA. The accommodation provided is accessible by keys only. All staff at the club and clubhouse are also full-time and well known to STA
5. Psychological: We have strict rules and regulations in place – see our code of conduct section in our registration form – that protect all players from any bullying or anti-social behaviour and it is taken with extreme seriousness.
6. On-Court: Whilst on-court for group training session, the normal player to coach ratio is 4 to 1, with this rarely reaching a maximum of 6 to 1, this ensures player protection and high standards of coaching.
Q. What other facilities does your academy provide, from an educational and academic perspective?
A. SotoTennis Academy is currently in discussions with the local Sotogrande International School, as well as other official education partners, to provide a structured educational programme for STA players of all levels and ages. This will be bespoke to each player, and will be implemented from September 2011, if required. Please email us for any further information on the syllabus and subjects available.
1. STA players are also able to do distance learning courses should they so wish, and this will be supported by STA staff to ensure their training and fitness programme works alongside their studies. These courses will need to be provided and arranged for by the player and/or their parents.
2. There is a local language school available which teaches Spanish, should players wish to learn. This can be arranged through STA and again can be incorporated within their fitness and training timetable.
3. Our team has extensive experience of the American University system, including our Director and Head Coach Dan Kiernan, who himself at Top 150 in the World, went to Louisiana State University. We can ensure, along with our educational partners, that the best programme is put in place for entry into US Universities.
Q. What strategic planning is implemented with the player to realise strengths, weaknesses, goals, techniques, and achievements?
A. At STA, we pride ourselves on the bespoke programmes we are able to offer our players and fully understand the importance of this both from an individual perspective as well as within the team environment we are creating. With this in mind, every 6 weeks we sit down with each player and do goal planning, where we set objectives, review video analysis of their own play as well as others, openly discuss techniques and areas for improvement as well as areas of strength to play towards, chart their matches and results and advise them on their goal setting process.
It’s vital the individual player concerned makes their development a primary focus and we demand that each player gives their all every time they play. We have a strong code of conduct in place (please see Registration form) and high standards that are to be met. We believe strongly in being very positive with our players, enforcing self-respect and self-belief, and reinforcing their ability to control the controllables.
At the end of each term, Head Coach Dan Kiernan writes a report for each player which details their performance, areas of improvement and areas for development, so that this can be reviewed over the break period and focused on when starting the new term.
Q. On court, what does the day to day timetable, training, and programme consist of to ensure individual targets and goals are achieved, and weakness corrected?
A. Each training programme and session is tailored strategically to the individual within the team environment. Each player is different in technique and at STA, we have no one specific way of coaching all of our players. We work closely with each player to improve their existing technique. Each day consists of on-court group training sessions and games, as well as a one on one coaching session and time in the gym improving fitness. Sessions are filmed for video analysis (see above), with day to day observations made and noted for discussion, as well as constant communication between coaches and players enabling weaknesses are corrected. Fitness testing and screening is also implemented to ensure the individual programmes drawn up are most suited for each player to give them their very best performance.
Q. Does STA do doubles training and/or coaching?
A. At STA, we are fortunate to have coaches and top players alike who are experts and champions in doubles, and we strongly believe it helps all forms of the game. We are able to provide training for doubles players; please email to enquire further.
Q. How does the coach / player relationship work; is one coach responsible for every aspect of one player or are several coaches involved in each players progress?
A. Each student will have an assigned coach who is responsible for all aspects of their development while linking in with the Director of Tennis and of course the Head of Sports Science
Q. What is involved in a typical day of training?
A. Please see a sample of our schedule below. You can also find a video on our website under Performance / Full Time Programmes.
Q. What accommodation is available?
A. There are several accommodation options available here at STA which range in price. Please visit the Performance/Accommodation tab on the website for more details.
Q. Do players get the opportunity to participate in and travel to tournaments?
A. Yes. We feel this is a vital part of a players development, and gives them the opportunity to play against different standards and nations, as well as help them to organise their time well with juggling travelling with fitness and playing; a vital part of being a well rounded player. All options to participate are discussed closely with the player, and if necessary their guardian/parent. For further information, please visit our Performance / Travelling Squad section on the website.
EXPERIENCE PLAYERS
Our experience offering includes camps and holiday packages.
Q. Where can I find further details on the dates and packages available?
A. All camp and holiday package dates are under the Experience tab of the website. These are kept up to date as and when we release new dates and information.
Q. How far is the Academy from the airport, and what transportation options are available?
A. Further details on flight and car hire options can be found under the Experience tab on the website. There are various airports that service the Marbella / Sotogrande area, all of which are varying distances and times away from us here at STA. The closest airport is Gibraltar, and is approximately 20 minutes / 24KM away. Airport pick ups/drop offs can be arranged for players/groups if required. Please email info@sototennis.com for price details.
Q. Where can I find further information on the accommodation and facilities provided at STA?
A. There are several accommodation options available here at STA which range in price. Please visit the Performance / Accommodation tab on the website for more details. Under Performance / Facilities, you will also find details of our local and on site facilities.
Q. What is included in the trip?
A. As most of the camp/holiday details are bespoke to each trip, please refer to your flyer/email for further specific information, including meal options. If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact either STA Director and Head Coach, Dan Kiernan dan@sototennis.com , or STA Head of Sports Science, Nick Morgan nick@sototennis.com or STA PR & Marketing Manager, Amanda Wenban amanda@sototennis.com .
Q. What should I bring with me to the holiday camp?
A. As well as the usual toiletries and clothes to relax/go out in, please bring with you at least 1 tennis racket, a water bottle, tennis clothing and footwear, sun cream, on-court towel, sunglasses, hat, notebook and pen, spare racket grip, and a spare t-shirt.
Q. What is involved in a typical day during the camp/holiday?
A. Please see a sample of our schedule below.
Q. Do players get to play matches?
A. Yes, all our players will play matches against each other, and where possible, we will try and bring in teams of a similar standard from local or European clubs to play matches with our players.
Q. Are there evening / weekend activities to do locally, after tennis?
A. Yes. As well as some gorgeous beaches, and stunning golf courses locally, there is also the option to go into one of the neighbouring towns for some sightseeing, or partake in some polo, horseriding, watersports, sailing, or dolphin watching, plus there are several zoos, sealife centres, steam trains and cable cars all located nearby. The famous ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ is a short distance away, and with a hire car, there is the option to visit some of southern Spain’s beautiful scenery and towns, or why not hire a boat and have lunch in Morocco one day! As well as a list of all excursions available, we can also recommend local restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Please email us at info@sototennis.com for further information.
Q. What age and standard do I need to be to participate in the camp / holiday?
A. Each camp/holiday is bespoke, and it will say on the flyer/email if there is a specific age/standard required. Adult specific holidays are usually aimed at 18’s and overs. Child camps are usually aimed at between 8 – 17 years of age, however we will happily discuss opportunities for children younger than this if requested.
Q. What is the weather like?
A. The Costa del Sol weather is exactly what you would expect from the name "Sunny Coast", sun, sun and more sun. It is one of the best, most reliable and healthiest climates in the world with more than 300 days of sunshine per year. In the winter months the climate is temperate with average daytime temperatures of about 16ºC. There can be some rainy days during this period but when tends to vary from year to year and it seldom lasts more than a few days. At the height of the summer in July and August the daytime temperatures reach about 30ºC and there is no rain - perhaps there may be one or two summer storms but nothing that will last too long. Due to the number of hours and the intensity of the sun people should have sun cream on at all times during the day to prevent burning.
Q. Do you provide reports at the end of each camp / holiday?
A. This is an option which is available, so please do make sure to contact us before you attend the camp if you wish to take this up.
Q. What procedures and guidelines do you put in place to ensure the safety and well being of your players?
A. We take our players health, safety and well being with extreme importance, and so we have several procedures in place. These are covered in a couple of ways:
1. General: The coaches and staff that train, coach, monitor, mentor and surround our students, are of the highest qualification, with H&F safety training, sports specialist first aid training, and CRB checks on top of their own qualifications. All documents and certificates can be provided if required. Please take a look at our Management team section for further details.
2. Physical: All players have periodic fitness testing and medical screening on top of their specifically designed regular weekly exercise, fitness and training sessions and nutritional advice provided by our Head of Sports Science. This ensures that all aspects of development, including injury prevention and specific pre-session pre-hab/remedial exercises, are catered for. If a player is injured and advised not to play, they will be placed on a suitable programme of rehabilitation instead of regular training. Please see our Performance / Sports Science page, and our Head of Sports Science's biography in the Management Team section for further information.
3. HealthCare: We have strong links with a highly recommended and respected local Physiotherapist who our students see regularly and when required. There is also a high standard doctors surgery that we recommend all players attend if required. Both of these facilities are 2 minutes off site, and an STA team member will attend with the player. Sun protection is required for all players in the form of sun block and appropriate clothing as set out in the players equipment section of the Rules and Regulations in the Registration Form.
4. Security: Sotogrande itself is in a gated community with security guards at each entrance/exit. At all times whilst on the facility, the players are supervised by adults from STA. The accommodation provided is accessible by keys only. All staff at the club and clubhouse are also full-time and well known to STA
5. Psychological: We have strict rules and regulations in place – see our code of conduct section in our registration form – that protect all players from any bullying or anti-social behaviour and it is taken with extreme seriousness.
6. On-Court: Whilst on-court for group training session, the normal player to coach ratio is 4 to 1, with this rarely reaching a maximum of 6 to 1, this ensures player protection and high standards of coaching.
