Valerie Clarke

I came to the Y in 2016 with the hope that I could learn to play tennis as an adult. More than 20+ years before that, I had held a racquet and occupied a position on the tennis court a handful of times, but I’d never benefited from formal tennis instruction. I was merely a “place-holder” on the court so others with me could play the game. I’d assumed learning this sport was no longer available to me since I did not play it as a child. When my neighbor encouraged me to sign up for adult lessons (something I was unaware even existed), I was excited by this prospect.

Gyata Stormon was the tennis coach at the Y who taught F.A.S.T. (Fun Adult Starter Tennis), and who began the tennis journey for me. Right away, I became hooked on the game! I continued to train with her, and a year and a half later, I competed in my first USTA season, something I have continued each summer since.

Seeking ways to practice the doubles tennis tactics that I’d learned from Gyata, I started writing ball machine drills with specific doubles tennis movement patterns. Gyata joined me in this endeavor and together we produced over 50 drills specific for doubles tennis. Interest grew in joining our ball machine practices, and before long, we were leading up to two sessions per week.

I enjoyed helping other players in these sessions, and at this point, Gyata encouraged me to consider obtaining my coaching certification. This was not something I had previously considered, but I love teaching (having taught in a science research lab during my previous career), so I registered for a TPA Tennis Instructor Certification course in Toronto, Canada which was the North American birthplace for the progressive tennis program Gyata taught me at the Y.

This system of training is specifically designed to link tactics to technique from day one which means that students learning how to hold a tennis racquet and hit balls can also simultaneously learn the game of tennis and be playing on the tennis court within 6 weeks.

Since then, I have assisted Gyata teaching F.A.S.T courses, developed and run my own adult beginner and novice level tennis drills classes, and coached a group of novice players during their weekly practice matches.

The entire tennis experience has not only been fulfilling in so many ways, it is something I never in my life previously contemplated because I was not a sports person before playing tennis. Other than loving the game and enjoying the progress I make along my personal tennis journey, I think my greatest joys come from helping other adults discover the game of tennis, and from observing these new players make their own self-discoveries as they experience a revelation similar to my own—that they can learn to play a new sport as an adult.