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Is it legal to apply discrimination against an ATPCA coach qualification in job opportunities?

The ATPCA is a not - for- profit and independent organisation.  All the Directors are Honorary. Established in 1967, ATPCA has been assessing, accrediting and qualifying tennis coaches (and fitness instructors) for over 40 years. Tennis Australia has been directly involved in coach education for 3 years.

In 1999 ATPCA became the sole accredited tennis coach training Proponent with the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) when Tennis Australia disconnected itself from the ASC because the ASC had endorsed ATPCA. Also at that time, ATPCA became registered with the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Later, Tennis Australia decided to re-unite with the ASC, and then ATPCA acted for a few years as an Endorsed Coaching Agency for Tennis Australia to run coach training. However, TA subsequently decided to enter the coach education market itself and directly compete against the same agencies it was endorsing on behalf of the ASC. Whilst it was acting in competition, TA imposed prohibitive requirements on ATPCA which were untenable. So ATPCA was forced to withdraw its affiliation with TA in 2007.

With many highly paid salaries and overheads to recover, TA’s foremost priority is a commercial* direction to its programs whereas in contrast, ATPCA regards the sport itself as the main focus. So ATPCA fees are far less costly.

*For example; the Weekend Australian Magazine Jan 16, 2010 quotes “the position (of President) of TA currently pays $156,000, with the perk of 14 week’s overseas travel a year”. Also, it quotes ”We’re running a business, not a country club” (says a high executive of TA).The television program Four Corners also produced a program on 1/3/2010 titled “The State of Play” in relation to TA and its commercialisation.. Visit the website...

Another practical difference is that ATPCA delivers a more intense course held over 3 days. Presented by a highly TA appraised facilitator (Julio El Akl), the current ATPCA’s Graduate Level 1 and Advanced Level 2 courses are virtually the same (plus improvements) as those which both the ASC and TA had endorsed prior to 2007.

ATPCA’s relationship with TA ended in 2007 due to a prohibitive arrangement of control that TA was proposing to impose on ATPCA to continue to have its endorsement when TA entered the field of coach education as a competitor of ATPCA. There were two major demands TA imposed for ATPCA to remain affiliated and endorsed by TA. First that ATPCA provides ongoing details about ATPCA members and some of our business affairs. Second, that the ATPCA must pay TA substantial sums for each training course it conducts plus other fees for each member.

This was of course unacceptable to ATPCA. It was considered anti competitive, not in the interests of tennis, and the re-establishment of monopoly control (with consequent higher than needed fees) within the tennis coach training industry.

The short answer is no. Coaches who qualify with ATPCA are of equal standing in job opportunities. Our lawyers advise us that no association or union or organisation can restrict employment opportunities to tennis coaches by requiring membership of a specific association or organisation. It would likely be a breach under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Schedule 16 – Freedom of Association as amended.). Hefty penalties can be imposed by the Federal Court. The Act prohibits victimisation or discrimination on various grounds including a person’s membership or non membership of an association (or other involvement with such an association) or on the exercise of a person’s rights under industrial laws.

It is a fact that ATPCA is the most experienced Australia-wide organisation in terms of providing on- court coach training and membership services for the attainment of qualification. Hence there’s likely to be greater employment and life opportunities for you than having no formal qualification. An ATPCA formal coaching qualification ensures that qualified and our licensed coaches receive the highest quality training, abide by a Code of Ethics, and have a minimum standard of coaching skill.

As a trainee or Qualified member of the ATPCA you and your ATPCA assistants are immediately insured on joining, without extra fee. Firstly, you are covered for $20 Million Public Liability. That’s for the risk of personal injury to the general public where you become legally liable whilst tennis coaching. Secondly, you are covered for $10 Million Professional Indemnity. This is for any breach of your professional duty whilst working as a coach. Furthermore, the Policy provides you with $100,000 of Property Damage, and substantial Accident cover. The Insurer is Sports Underwriting Australia a division of Calliden Ltd - an Australian licensed insurer. Should you need a Certificate of Currency to print out for job opportunities, just go to our Members Only page.

Coach Education courses are conducted regularly in nearly all major cities of Australia. Location details here. For those who just want the very basics, the ATPCA provides a short (non qualification) introductory course called Development (referred to sometimes as “Orientation”). Each of the next 3 courses are Qualification courses. These are:

The Graduate LEVEL 1 course - prepares coaches to train and develop juniors and adults who have a playing standard of from beginner to mid competition level. There’s lots of enjoyable on - court activity whilst you learn within a small group of trainees. This course, which will allow you to start coaching kids as a professional, is the most popular. Details here.

The Advanced LEVEL 2 course prepares coaches to train and develop juniors and adults who have a playing standard of from intermediate to advanced or inter- district standard .This is also predominately practical, with emphasis on mutual activity (advanced drills etc) on court and covers a more detailed curriculum. Having the qualification to coach advanced players as well as juniors is a major step up for your career. Details here.

The Master Professional LEVEL 3 course (referred to sometimes as “High Performance”) is held annually. It prepares Level 2 coaches to embark on a more prominent and major role operating a larger style resort. This includes coaching and managing elite standard players. It’s a 4 full day weekend course (25 hours). Besides biomechanics (advanced stroke production techniques), there’s various related experts who provide specialty instruction in the areas of sports psychology, advanced footwork, nutrition and physical conditioning. Details here.

Providing you are or have been a reasonable standard player, comfortable with people, a good leader and physically capable, you’ll love it. And the pre-requisites are:

Graduate LEVEL 1; You are (or have been) a mid range player - usually competition standard (“B” grade or around N7 in the ITN system) or at least a reasonably strong social standard. You should be a person who enjoys teaching, particularly children. You’re keen to coach more proficiently either as a “hobby” (perhaps even your own children?), or professionally part time or full time.

Advanced LEVEL 2; You are (or have been) a quite strong player –up near the “A” Grade level (or N6 in the ITN system). Having already achieved the learning outcomes of the Graduate Level 1 course above, you aspire to achieve the ultimate satisfaction in coaching by including very high standard players amongst your clients. You could then be sought after to coach in Council courts and resorts worldwide.

Master Professional LEVEL 3; You need to have completed the Advanced Level 2 course and be of a high standard preferably higher than in the above Level 2 (N5 or higher). This qualification is for the very serious pro coach who would enjoy working with elite players and who would take a strong interest in the management of a resort or country club.

Seminars ,

These On- Court Seminars are the most popular.

This is ATPCA’s standard qualification course focussed on ‘practical learning’ (concentrated over 3 days) with most of the outcomes achieved whilst in action on-court (minimum time in a lecture room). Contact julio@atpca.com.au or phone 0411158669 for extra information and friendly discussion.

Recognised Prior Learning (RPL),

The RPL option means "fast track" qualification if already experienced.

This is usually a considerably shortened version of the course (or possibly exemption from the course) if you already possess the skills of most (or all) of the required competencies. You may need to be assessed on court with students (or by DVD submission). Should you be able to effectively demonstrate all of the competency requirements, you would not be required to train at all. Or possibly you may just need a shortened update in a few of the skills required. In Regional areas, this RPL is usually conducted by an ATPCA Registered Assessor in your vicinity. Whether you live in a city or Regional area, contact head office tennis@atpca.com.au and we will advise you further.

Distance Education,

For well out of town trainees, qualification can be arranged this way.

A mentor is appointed and you mail DVD’s back to ATPCA for assessment and discussion as to methods of improvement etc. Telephone or video conferencing with training is conducted over a variety of sessions. It occupies about 3 months. You need to have your own pupils on hand when making your DVD presentation.

Probably no - though you may need to be assessed as to what parts of the training course you could be exempt –if not entirely exempt. It depends on the “evidence” you provide to an assessor. For more information, see the previous question or for full details click here on RPL .

The “Members Only” section is exclusive. It contains benefits such as equipment discounts, learning materials, job opportunities and insurance details. If you are already an ATPCA member, simply click on the “Members Only”, page, select your area of interest , and enter your name and password exactly as in the following example using upper and lower case. Your password is the one on your license card we issue. Or, in the case of trainees, we email you your password.

Username: JohnSMITH

Password: JE04569981

If you’re still having trouble, email rhys@atpca.com.au

Your password can be found on your License card which you receive once qualified. If you are a trainee, you are emailed a password. If it is lost, just email rhys@atpca.com.au and he will send it to you again. Once qualified it is valid whilst you remain a member of ATPCA.

For information about ATPCA fees click here. You can also place a deposit to hold your place and pay the balance closer to the course date commencement. If two friends enrol for a course at the same time, there are further discounts.

Yes. There is no extra fee for these. Once enrolled for a course, the Presenter will immediately mail you ATPCA’s learning resource package including a “Qualification Study Guide” and ATPCA’s unique 570 page Supercoach Manual. You can then, beforehand, consider the assignments and the Study Guide’s questions which refer directly to specific Manual pages. There’s also the ATPCA’s Dvds to view and a theory exam paper which is opened near the end of the course. Any further questions on the course may then be addressed on the commencement day or even before if you wish to julio@atpca.com.au.

Simply follow the link at the end of this paragraph to enquire further. Fill in your contact details, click ‘submit’ and you’re underway. You will then receive a confirmation email containing a special password which will allow you to open the Application Form. Click here to begin.