Scarborough Tennis Academy
Scarborough Tennis Academy, led by the head-coach Rick Willsmore, is a well recognised coaching Academy having received multiple awards including winning the 2012/13 Tennis West Club Coaching Excellence Award and being a finalist from 2013/14 to 2016/17.
Rick is a qualified Tennis Australia Club Professional. He has played at both State Grade and US College level of tennis. Rick has also authored articles in the Australian Tennis Magazine. He regularly publishes articles in various media circulating to members and others regarding the game of tennis.
He has built a strong coaching team, which caters for different needs of its clientele. The Academy has achieved consistent results in terms of participation, performance and management and support for tennis players of all levels.
Tennis coaching is offered to children as young as 3 years old through to adults ranging from beginner to advanced.
Rick Willsmore; Owner and Head Tennis Professional
Rick is the founder and head coach at Scarborough Tennis Academy and has been running the academy for 12 years. As a player, he has played at a US college on a full scholarship and has played at state grade level in SA, NT and WA. As a player, Rick serves big, rallies hard with big spin on his forehand, great timing on his double hand backhand and very soft hands at net. Rick has created the courses held at Scarborough Tennis Academy and oversees everything involved in the business. Rick own coaching is focused on the Junior Club squads, teams and private tuition dividing his time between his role of Head Coach with overseeing the Academy’s operations.
Andrea Cooper; Tennis Professional
Andrea is highly qualified tennis professional and manager who has been with Scarborough Tennis Academy for many years bringing with her a wealth of playing and coaching experience. Andrea is a former top 10 British junior and also a division 1 scholarship holder in the United States college system and state league winner. As a player, Andrea has an excellent serve volley game, one hand backhand and can craft points with a variety of spins and placements. Andrea conducts squad sessions and private lessons for Junior Club players and also for very lucky Hot Shots players. Currently Andrea is on maternity leave looking after young Amelia! Andrea is set to return on a part time basis from April.
Meg Connell; Tennis Professional
Meg as a junior went through the Scarborough Tennis Academy system and is a shining example of the values and outcomes that come from our students, winning several tournaments, competing in national titles and gaining a top 30 Australian junior ranking. In year 12, Meg was also elected captain of the WA Pizzey Cup team who travelled over east for the school nationals and plays womans state grade. As a player, Meg is an aggressive baseliner with great reach and power. Now a qualified coach and halfway through her high school teaching degree, Meg can inspire and help others to play and improve their game through Hot Shots lessons, Junior Club squads, Private Lessons and Adult Programs.
Victor Pereira; Tennis Professional
Victor has enjoyed a lifetime of tennis where he has been a professional tennis player, representing Singapore at the Davis Cup level on two occasions. Victor has always stayed involved with the sport as a private coach to several promising juniors along with training pennant teams and other squads. As a player, Victor is very smart tactically and effortless technically with a nice one hand backhand. He can put the ball wherever he wants in the court and can still match it with the best. Victor works with our Junior Club players doing a handful of private lessons and squads.
Stephanie White; Tennis Professional
Stephanie is an advanced player, qualified tennis coach and exercise physiologist and fulltime school teacher. Steph has had a life of tennis playing pennants, tournaments and currently plays woman’s state grade. As a player, she has a big serve and forehand, one handed backhand and great movement. Steph is very detailed with her coaching and loves to see kids improve. Steph still contributes to the tennis academy taking a handful of private lessons, Hot Shots classes and Junior Club squads.
Melvyn Scholtz; Tennis Professional
Melvyn has been a long term academy coach and provides passionate and caring Hot Shots coaching lessons. Melvyn helps the children feel comfortable and whilst maintaining good control of the class, he inspires them to learn, improve and have fun! As a player, Melvyn took up the sport as an adult and loves to rally back and forth from the baseline with his top spin forehand and one hand backhand. On top of tennis coaching, Melvyn also has Tango dancing, Painting and many other artistic pursuits to his list of skills. Melvyn conducts both Hot Shot group and private lessons at the Academy and is always up for a chat about how lucky we are to be playing tennis!
Maddy Barrett; Tennis Professional
Maddy as a junior trained a lot in tennis, playing tournaments and ending up the #1 player in the St Mary’s Senior Tennis team. Maddy trained with the academy as part of her school tennis and has since moved on to become an excellent coach and leader of our young players. As a player, Maddy hits hard and flat with a strong baseline game with double hand backhand. Maddy now runs several Hot Shots classes as well as running Junior Club squads and private lessons.
Michael Offermann; Tennis Professional
Michael grew up in Albany where he was the top junior player in country WA. He moved on to compete in state tournament and achieving a top 10 state junior ranking. As a player, Michael enjoys an all court game, coming into net and mixing his game up with slice and topspin. Michael is a sport fanatic who is studying medicine. Now a skilled coach, Michael helps coach and mentor our young players through several Hot Shots classes, Junior Squads and Private Lessons.
