DAVID Watson has become one of the youngest senior LTA coaches in the country.

The 19-year-old coach from Thorpe Bay tennis club passed the grading at an assessment in Hertfordshire.

He was up against coaches who were in their mid-twenties and early 30s but proved age was no bar.

“I’m really pleased that I managed to pass as some of the older ones did not,” said Watson, “I have been told by the LTA that I'm definitely one of, if not the youngest, senior coach they have qualified in the country.

“It’s given me that extra bit of confidence that I’m young but I know what I’m talking about.”

The assessment involved Watson conducting two group sessions and an individual coaching lesson.

The group sessions were successful but the one-on-one lesson was a potential banana skin for Watson.

“It was the first time the lady I taught had picked up a racquet,” he explained. “I thought I could not make her any worse, so she could only get better.

“I was lucky because she picked it up quite quickly and that calmed my nerves.

“You do not know how they are going to react but what they teach you on the course is to have the communications skills.”

Watson has been studying for three years to progress through the LTA coaching grades. The senior is grade four and the final one is the master level. Watson started working towards the senior last winter and hopes to do his master exam in the future.

But for now he is hoping to put what he has learned into practice by coaching members at the Thorpe Bay Gardens club.

“I have learned so much more doing this qualification than the last one and it’s all about improving people that I’m coaching,” Watson added.

“As well as the technical aspects you also become a life coach by explaining how they should approach the game more professionally.

“I would also like to thank Thorpe Bay head coach Jon Lee for all his help and advice.”

Lee said: “David worked hard throughout his senior club coach and has developed well over the past year.

“He learnt a lot through the course and also through his coaching at the club. He deserved to pass and we now look forward to pushing him further within his coaching career.”