Codie George is a coach at Tennis Australia’s Nationwide Tennis Academy and works carefully with rising Perth teen Talia Gibson.
Brisbane, Australia, 12 June 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Codie George has turned a love of tennis right into a profitable and fulfilling profession.
“Tennis has been an enormous a part of my life since I picked up a racquet at six,” George informed tennis.com.au.
“I performed so much as a junior within the Northern Territory after which South Australia. Clearly as a child your aspirations are round enjoying, not teaching in any sport.
“However once I had wrist surgical procedure at 16, I began serving to out at my native membership behind the desk and received referred to as out at some point to assist with the Sizzling Photographs Tennis program. I assumed it was going to be a nightmare, however I actually loved it and it simply stored rising from there.”
Now, 15 years later, George is one among Australia’s main high-performance coaches.
Following stints working as a non-public coach and with Tennis SA, the 31-year-old is presently a member of Tennis Australia’s Nationwide Tennis Academy teaching crew.
George works carefully with rising star Talia Gibson and was invited by Sam Stosur to assist Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup crew throughout their latest Qualifier tie in Brisbane.
> READ: Codie George steps into new position with Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup crew
“Teaching might be very difficult, however finally very rewarding,” George stated.
“Day-after-day is totally different and in my present position I get to take action many alternative issues, together with the latest alternative with the Billie Jean King Cup.
“I’ve been doing quite a lot of travelling previously 2.5 years since shifting to Brisbane, that are experiences I might by no means in any other case have had.”
The non-public improvement alternatives are additionally large, in response to George.
“It’s a must to study to have persistence and work out alternative ways of implementing change,” she defined. “An enormous a part of the job is drawback fixing alternative ways to get your message throughout in order that it’s understood.
“Teaching has positively pushed me outdoors of my consolation zone. I moved interstate for the NTA position, am spending quite a lot of weeks on the street and am continuously round nice tennis individuals who have been within the sport for a very long time.”
She credit working below Milo Bradley, Sandon Stolle and Brent Larkham for lots of her learnings, with Rohan Fisher and Belinda Colaneri having additionally been large supporters each professionally and personally from the beginning of her teaching journey.
“I positively credit score having any kind of profession in tennis to the nice individuals I’ve been round and have had the chance to study from,” George stated.
“Dave Taylor had had an enormous affect on my teaching too and I couldn’t be extra grateful for his mentorship. His ardour and wealth of information in regards to the ladies’s recreation is off the charts. He at all times says ‘stick with your line’, which is about having conviction in your messaging and to what you consider as a coach.”
George is very grateful for the assist from her companion Colin Ebelthite, a former professional participant and fellow Nationwide Tennis Academy coach.
“I’m positive there’s an unhealthy quantity of tennis chat at occasions,” she laughed. “However I’ve most likely learnt probably the most from him. He has an amazing tennis mind.”
Discovering time for family members, family and friends is likely one of the largest challenges that George faces as a full-time travelling coach, nevertheless she recognises it’s a sacrifice that comes with the position.
“There’s quite a lot of journey, nevertheless it needs to be accomplished and I get pleasure from attending to see the world,” she stated.
“It’s nice to see a lot of totally different locations and tennis environments. Seeing what the enjoying and training stage is like all around the world has actually helped me as effectively.”
George is inspired by the progress of her cost, 19-year-old Gibson, who peaked at a career-high singles rating of world No.179 this week.
“My teaching philosophy is in regards to the significance of the coaching requirements you persistently carry every day,” George stated. “That’s the place the magic occurs.
“Talia has made a acutely aware effort to step up her physicality, depth and intent, and in doing so, has made quite a lot of enhancements.”
Talia Gibson in motion at an ITF event in Portugal.
Such enhancements have crammed George with pleasure.
“I get pleasure from seeing progress in one thing that I’ve helped be part of,” she stated.
“Engaged on issues every day, then seeing that switch into matches below stress. It’s the small issues that I get probably the most fulfilment out of, moderately than any particular outcome. And that’s the identical whether or not I’m on courtroom with a 10-year-old or with the Billie Jean King Cup crew.”
George, a beneficiary of Tennis Australia’s President’s Ladies in Tennis Scholarship program, admits her personal profession trajectory has been stunning.
“It positively wasn’t how I assumed it was going to go once I first began teaching,” she famous of her ambitions of working within the high-performance area.
“However it’s a nice profession to pursue, with so many alternative roles and avenues which you can go down in tennis, whether or not it’s off courtroom or on courtroom. There are quite a lot of alternatives, and in the intervening time quite a lot of alternatives for females in sport as effectively.
“I’m fortunate I’ve at all times been surrounded by people who had perception in me too.”
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Discover your solution to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
