My First Few Weeks as Head Coach

Meeting the Players

Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you in both group sessions and individual lessons. It’s been great to get a sense of everyone’s strengths, areas for development, and what you’re looking to achieve on court. The atmosphere at Rye is incredibly welcoming, and I truly appreciate the warmth and enthusiasm you’ve all shown me.

Getting Used to the Rye Wind & Rain!

As many of you know, adapting to the Rye wind has been quite an experience! It’s added an extra layer of challenge that I think can only improve our play in the long run. And, of course, the ever-present question: “At what point do we call it a day because of rain?” has been another fun one to navigate! I think we’ve found our rhythm for what conditions we’re happy to brave, and it’s been refreshing to see everyone’s dedication to keeping play going, despite the weather.

My First Padel Match & Upcoming Tournament

Last week marked my first Padel match at the club, which was a fantastic experience! The game has a great energy and I’m excited to see more of you trying it out. In fact, we have a Padel tournament coming up this Sunday, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time to join in what promises to be a fun, competitive day on court.

Building the Future: New Groups & Training Plans

As I continue to get to know everyone, I’m also thinking about how we can expand our offerings and create some exciting new training groups. I’m hoping to launch some additional group sessions in the coming weeks, and I’d love to hear from you about what times and formats might work best. Whether it’s early mornings, evenings, or weekends, your feedback will help shape the future of our program.

Your Ideas Are Welcome

I’m eager to build on what’s already great about Rye Lawn Tennis Club, and I want to hear from you! If you have any ideas or suggestions for activities, new formats, or ways we can make the coaching experience even better, please don’t hesitate to share. Whether it’s new drills, social events, or something completely different, I’m here to make it happen!

Thank you all for making these first few weeks so enjoyable. I’m looking forward to the months ahead as we continue to grow together as a club and develop our skills on and off the court.

See you on the courts!

Mark Edwards