Company Background

The Victorian Tennis Academy (VTA) was founded by Richard Foley over 30 years ago, beginning with a contract at Lauriston Girls School.  The company has grown and flourished from these beginnings and is now acknowledged as one of the leading providers of grass roots coaching in Australia.

The VTA's vision is to establish a centre of excellence for tennis students; and create an "All Welcome" atmosphere that encourages people to try, buy and fly in tennis.  Our purpose is to provide inspirational tennis programs that are delivered with enthusiasm using the right exquipment and learning principles in a positive environment.

The Company has wide experience running local tennis centres. Since 1983 the VTA has successfully managed venues at:

• Camberwell Racquet Centre (1983 – 1990)
• South Yarra Tennis Centre (1989 – 1999)
• St Kilda Tennis Centre (1994 – 2000)
• East Melbourne Tennis Centre (1998 – Current)
• Malvern Tennis Centre (2001 – Current)
• Orrong Park Tennis Centre (2001 – Current)

The Company also operates the coaching programs at:

• Lauriston Girls School (1977 – Current)
• Presbyterian Ladies College (1996 – Current)
• St Catherines School (1994 – Current)
• Melbourne Girls Grammar School (1996 – Current)
• Loretto / Mandeville Hall (2002 – Current)

The principals of the Victorian Tennis Academy are Richard Foley and Rufus Keown. Both are residents of the City of Stonnington Council and are committed to the promotion of a healthy, balanced lifestyle for residents of the city.

Rufus and Richard between them are members of:

• Tennis Australia Coach Membership Australia, Australia’s largest Tennis Coaches Organisation
• Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) the world’s largest Tennis Coaches Organisation
• The Australian Davis Cup Tennis Foundation (ADCTF), for supporters of Australia’s Davis Cup Team.
• Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club (KLTC), Australia’s most prestigious tennis club.

 

Rufus Keown BBus (Mgmt), Grad Dip (Sports Management),

Tennis Australia Club Professional Certified Coach

Rufus Keown is a full time tennis coach holding a Bachelor of Business Management from Monash University; a Graduate Diploma in Sports Management from Deakin University and is a Tennis Australia Club Professional Certified Coach.

Rufus has worked at the Victorian Tennis Academy in Melbourne for over 15 years rising to position of co-director.  During this time, and particularly in the past 5 years, enrolments have trebled and the Victorian Tennis Academy is recognised as one of the leading delivers of grass roots tennis programs in the country.

Involved in all aspects of the tennis business Rufus has a particular interest in delivering inspiring tennis experiences for 5 - 14 year olds, the age at which kids develop  their passion for tennis and make it a game for life.

In addition to managerial duties with VTA and being director of tennis at the Malvern Tennis Centre in Melbourne Rufus co-founded the Head Aussie Mozzie tennis starter program and wrote the coaches manual for the program.  He also runs a tennis coaching website Global Sports Coaching.  The site specialises in providing quality practical information for coaches to use in their everyday coaching.  I have also authored several e-books including “Psyched Up Drills for Tennis” and “Player Development.” 

In building a passion for the development of the sport in Australia Rufus has taken positions as a Hot Shots Ambassador, promoting Tennis Australia national grass roots program; and on the Local Coaches Advisory Group helping build relationships with coaches so that the industry can pull together and face its challenges together.

 

 

Richard Foley 

Tennis Australia Master Club Professional Coach

Richard has been involved in the sporting, tennis, and recreation area for the last 25 years both as an athlete and a coach. Early career highlights included national ranking in middle distance running, including being the first Queensland schoolboy to break 4 minutes for 1500 metres. Other early career highlights included high playing levels in rugby cricket and tennis.

Qualifications include Physical Education Degree and a Tennis Australia Master Club Professional Coach Certificate. Richard is also a graduate of The Vic Braden Tennis Academy (USA) and a member of Professional Tennis Registry (PTR). Early career highlights include teaching physical education at Caulfield Grammar School and Scotch College with coaching stints at first team level of athletics, rugby and tennis.

Richard is currently an owner and director of The Victorian Tennis Academy (VTA) operating 3 commercial tennis centres and kiosks and coaching and consulting to 6 major private schools in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. The Company has been operating in Melbourne for twenty five years (25) and employs twenty staff (20) with around a thousand (1000) clients a week. The Victorian Tennis Academy is involved in all aspects of the tennis business including coaching, court hire, competitions centre management, team coaching, court construction, repair and maintenance, pro shop management and tennis travel, and camps. Last year the company was the No. 1 Tennis Australia Hot Shots deliverer in the country and look like repeating this in 2008.

Richard is a member of a 5 panel Tennis Australia Coach Membership National Coaches Advisory Group (NCAG) and a Board Member of Tennis Coaches Australia Victoria (TCAV). The last 2 years has seen some well needed changes being introduced to the tennis coaching and tennis industry in Australia. Club memberships include Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club (KLTC), Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and The Wallaby IST Rugby Union Club.