Tennis Coach. Builder.
Sarasota Local.
USPTA Elite Professional with 30+ years coaching. Founder of SRQ Tennis. Developing young athletes through evidence-based coaching and small-group programs at public parks across Sarasota.
The Six Pillars
The coaching philosophy behind every SRQ Tennis program.
Accuracy Before Everything
Placement before power. 8 out of 10 to the target before we push the pace.
Live Ball Is the Method
Real rallies, real situations. Fed balls and machines don't teach match play.
Technique Is Geometry
Center contact, square face. We coach the contact, not the choreography.
Confidence Is Built
Evidence, not flattery. We track progress with real numbers so players know they're improving.
Conditioning in Order
Joint mobility, then muscle activation, then high intensity. The right order matches the player's stage.
Channel the Fire
Competitive frustration is fuel. We teach the Between-Point Routine to harness it.
From the Blog
Should Your Junior Specialize in Tennis Yet? A Sarasota Parent's Guide
Sarasota coach Michael Boothman on when juniors should focus on tennis vs. play multiple sports, and what the research actually says about early specialization.
Michael Boothman on the Quiet Habit That Separates Good Sarasota Juniors From Great Ones
Michael Boothman on why the Sarasota junior players who track their own numbers improve faster — a coaching habit built on real evidence, not hype.
The First-Volley Live-Ball Drill Michael Boothman Uses With Sarasota Juniors
A simple live-ball drill from Sarasota coach Michael Boothman that teaches juniors to close the net and land a controlled first volley under real pressure.