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
Why Thinking About Your Strokes Backfires Under Pressure — A Sarasota Coaching Note
Michael Boothman on why Sarasota juniors freeze up in real matches — how conscious processing wrecks smooth strokes, and what to train instead.
Why Sarasota Juniors Should Compete Before They Feel Ready
Michael Boothman on representative learning: why Sarasota juniors build real skill by competing sooner, not by drilling until a stroke looks perfect.
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.