Here is a good question: did I find the right coach, is the guy that I'm playing with, or my child is playing with, good enough? The question is clear but the answer is not that simple. One coach can be perfect for a player but total inappropriate for another. In order to explain we have to look at the level and the age of the tennis player.
For beginners
First of all, the right coach has to have very good teaching skills. This is the stage when the tennis player gets introduced to the basics of tennis, learns the rules and more important the basic strokes (forehand, backhand, vole, smash and service). It's very important that he learns correct, because correction in a later stage it's a very difficult process, sometimes even an impossible task.
He has to have a good experience in teaching young players. If he has good results with junior players it doesn't mean that he is also good with beginners.
Another important quality is that he likes working with children. Young players are difficult to control they get bored quite easy and for this job, a nice and patient person is needed.
Last but not least: fun, fun, fun. The player's feedback is very important, and if you ask a 6 year old how was his footwork or if he was able to put more spin in his forehand he wouldn't know what to answer, but if you ask, was it fun? Will you want to go again tomorrow? You will have a sincere and accurate answer.
For advanced players
Well, advanced players are the players that have past the beginner stage, now besides the basic strokes, the player gets introduced to other strokes (slice, drop-shot) the physical condition is playing a more important role and also the competitions come into play. So until the professional level when every part of the player's training will be looked upon by a specialist, the tennis coach will also have the role of a physical trainer, sometimes a sparing partner, a nutritionist and even the role of a psychologist. Knowing this we can say that the right coach for the advanced players should:
- insert physical training into the players program
- give advice regarding the advantages of a good nutrition
- continue the development of the basic strokes together with the increase of control and power
- encourage the player to start playing tournaments, but in the same time, neither the coach nor the player or parents should consider the results as of great importance
- accompany the player to as many tournaments as possible and analyze his match performance
- monitor the player's progress in physical and technical training, and also in competitions, discuss the problems with the player and make the necessary adjustments to the training program
- try to help the player not only with his tennis problems but also with the personal ones like school or family
A coach with, at least, these features can be consider the right coach, but like I said in the beginning one coach can be perfect for a player but total inappropriate for another, so the way that the player feels during training is very important, if we have a talented player that likes playing tennis and likes training, who is helped by a good coach then we will see good and fast results.