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
A Summer Tennis Guide for Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota Families
Michael Boothman on building real summer tennis habits for Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota juniors — courts, heat, and practice that actually transfers.
Why Less Coaching Feedback Builds Better Sarasota Players
Michael Boothman on the guidance hypothesis: why constant coaching feedback slows learning, and how Sarasota juniors build skills that hold up in matches.
The Recovery Step Most Sarasota Juniors Skip — A Footwork Drill from Michael Boothman
Michael Boothman breaks down a simple Sarasota footwork drill that fixes the recovery step most juniors skip — built on the Movement & Conditioning pillar.