FORMER top national tennis player Kadija Richards is now the highest internationally certified tennis coach in Jamaica and female coach in the Caribbean, having recently earned the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Level 3 Coaching Certification in Valencia, Spain.

Richards, who is the technical coordinator at Tennis Jamaica, was offered a scholarship to attend the coaching course in Spain for a second time, having completed the Level 2 Coaching Course there in June 2011. The six-week course included advanced theoretical and practical coursework in the areas of tactics, biomechanics, psychology, strength & conditioning, planning & professional development and teaching methodology.

Richards, a former internationally ranked junior, professional and collegiate player, has been coaching tennis for over 12 years, serving as coach, captain and/or manager for several national tennis teams representing Jamaica in international events, including the Davis Cup, Junior Fed Cup, World Junior Tennis Competition and Pan-American Games.

Richards is also a sport psychology consultant, and has worked and travelled with several other national sporting associations in this capacity, including cricket, netball and the highly successful delegation to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

With her new certification, Richards is qualified to coach all levels of tennis and will likely be conducting courses as a Play & Stay (10 & Under Tennis), Level 1 and Level 2 tutor, as well as a level 3 tutor in the psychology module due to her background in sport psychology. She will also be called upon to travel with regional touring tennis teams by the International Tennis Federation.