11 Dec 2025

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has renewed its recognition of Botswana Tennis coaches education system to white level for the period 2025–2029.

Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) president, Oaitse Thipe, said in an interview that the renewal meant that BTA was now self-sufficient in training coaches up to the Play and Stay coaching level.

He said this means the country has an adequate number of qualified tutors who can conduct coaching courses and issue certifications locally.

“This really means a lot to the Botswana Tennis Association. It shows that the world tennis governing body trusts us to ensure that coaching standards across the country are being met,” he said.

Thipe noted that the renewed recognition would enable the association to host advanced-level coaching courses next year with a well-prepared pool of local coaches.

He said it was therefore crucial for the national tennis federation’s coaching education system to remain standardised. This includes having a consistent training plan for all coaches, a licensing system, and an operational coaches commission to ensure that only licensed coaches are utilised.

Botswana earned the renewed recognition after the ITF, together with its Coaches Commission, established criteria and minimum standards for coach education systems, which were later adopted by the ITF Board of Directors.

According to a letter from the ITF, these criteria and coaching competencies for various levels were developed to ensure quality standards in coaching education globally and to allow the evaluation of member nations’ systems. ENDS