If youSA国际影视传媒檝e ever been around the Yellowknife Tennis Club, you will know who Tamara Jovic is. YouSA国际影视传媒檒l see her playing tournaments, giving lessons or working with the junior players.
But what you maybe didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know is that the 20-year-old has what no one else in the NWT has: a certified professional licence to coach.
Jovic is the proud owner of whatSA国际影视传媒檚 called a Club Pro 1 licence through the Tennis Professionals Association. That means she can now go anywhere in the country and get paid a salary to teach the sport. Some of that work could include delivering private and group lessons, design basic lesson content and run introductory programs, such as socials, round-robins, and tournaments. Jovic was able to apply for the course by virtue of having her InstructorsSA国际影视传媒� certification with at least 150 hours of on-court teaching experience.
Needless to say, Jovic said she was excited once she received the news that she passed.
SA国际影视传媒淕etting my club pro licence is a big deal because there arenSA国际影视传媒檛 many who have it that are as young as I am,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 needed it to coach at the Canada Summer Games, so that was one of the big reasons I wanted to get it.SA国际影视传媒�
Jovic was the assistant coach with Jan Martinek, the Yellowknife Tennis ClubSA国际影视传媒檚 head professional, at the Games in Ontario last month. She now has the very same certification as Martinek and she gave him lots of credit for helping get her over the bump.
SA国际影视传媒淚 worked two summers in a row with Jan and if I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 coach as much as I did with him, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think I would have done as well as I did,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
The club pro certification allows someone to become an entry-level assistant pro at a year-round indoor club or a head pro at a seasonal or community club. The course took nine days in total to complete; Jovic had to travel to both Calgary and Edmonton for three separate three-day sessions between April and May in order to do it.
SA国际影视传媒淲e had two Zoom module days, where we discussed what we would be doing on the court,SA国际影视传媒� said Jovic. SA国际影视传媒淎fter that, it was seven days on-court and two of those days were evaluation days. No nerves at all (laughs).SA国际影视传媒�
John St. Louis, Tennis NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 president, said there have been some really good young players who have gone through the system, but Jovic seems to keep reaching higher.
SA国际影视传媒淪heSA国际影视传媒檚 won a lot of tournaments and sheSA国际影视传媒檚 grown up in the Yellowknife tennis system,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淕etting professional certification is an amazing accomplishment for her because of the amount of time needed for the testing on and off the court. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e just thrilled that she has that now and sheSA国际影视传媒檒l be a great addition to any club that hires her on.SA国际影视传媒�
What this does now, he added, is show young players in the NWT that they, too, can reach the same heights that Jovic has.
SA国际影视传媒淪heSA国际影视传媒檚 worked very closely with the young kids in the territory and sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been a terrific mentor who sets a great example,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪heSA国际影视传媒檚 their inspiration now.SA国际影视传媒�
Jovic has returned for her third year at the University of Calgary and she plans on playing with the womenSA国际影视传媒檚 tennis team again this season.
She said her new certification has given her more confidence for the new year.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e learned so much from our coaches and from doing the pro course,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 increased my playing ability and ISA国际影视传媒檓 really excited about the new season.SA国际影视传媒�
