Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/916935
26 ITFWORLD WINTER 2017 "We have to make coaching a great career," Haggerty said. "It's like teachers in schools. Sometimes they are the lowest-paid and yet they serve the biggest purpose. They educate our future leaders and what's more important than that? I see the same thing from coaching tennis." The theme of the week was 'The Journey of the Player' with topics ranging from 'Stereotype threat effects on female player development' to 'How sleep affects athletic performance'. There was something for everyone. With a smorgasbord of ideas on offer, coaches traded thoughts, debated topics and picked the brains of some of the game's deepest thinkers. Innovation, integrity and investment dominated the agenda, nestled under the umbrella of a simple message: never stand still. It seemed only apt, then, that Sofia was the chosen destination for the 20th edition of the conference. Tennis is the fastest growing sport in Bulgaria — the home nation was the most represented at the conference, closely followed by Iran where tennis is on the rise as a participation sport. The picturesque Bulgarian capital, which sits at the base of the Vitosha Mountain, has a motto: 'Grows, but does not age.' Indeed, learning never gets old. If anyone knows this, it's Pierce, a two-time Fed Cup champion. When she wasn't speaking at a podium or posing for selfies she could be seen sitting front and centre, drinking in what her fellow experts were teaching. "We have to make coaching a great career. It's like teachers in schools. Sometimes they are the lowest-paid and yet they serve the biggest purpose. They educate our future leaders and what's more important than that? I see the same thing from coaching tennis." - David Haggerty WORLDWIDE COACHES CONFERENCE Children demonstrate the key athletic and skill development games showcased by Ruben Neyens Sofia resident Magdalena Maleeva took part in round table discussions with fellow speaker Anne Pankhurst and also gave insights from her playing career Sam Richardson presented on the British LTA's participation programme Tennis for Kids Louis Cayer demonstrating different tactics in doubles