Lessons from longtime tennis coach Delaine Mast on relationships, opportunity, and putting students first
For Delaine Mast, coaching tennis has never been just about what happens on the court.
After more than 40 years coaching at an inner-city high school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Delaine has seen firsthand how a tennis program can become much more than a place to learn a sport. It can become a place where young people build confidence, develop character, learn healthy habits, form meaningful relationships, and discover opportunities they may not have otherwise had.
Delaine coaches both boys and girls and also leads an NJTL (National Junior Tennis & Learning) chapter. She has worked closely with Billie Jean King and is involved with Impact Team Tennis, formerly World TeamTennis, including its High School Nationals.
Her message to coaches is simple: a great program isn’t built only through wins. It’s built through people, relationships, creativity, and a commitment to giving students opportunities.
Three Lessons for Coaches
Relationships are everything. Coaches should build connections with local tennis organizations, parks and recreation departments, clubs, teaching pros, sporting-goods stores, alumni, schools, and local businesses. Those partnerships can create access to courts, equipment, funding, lessons, and programs that a school budget alone cannot provide.
Never stop learning. Great coaches keep looking for better ways to support students—whether that means learning about team bonding, mental health, player development, tournament formats, or community outreach.
Always be part of a solution. Instead of accepting limited budgets, poor facilities, or lack of access, look for a practical next step: pursue grants, form partnerships, create programs, host events, and put plans in writing so they actually happen.
Practical Ways to Grow a Program
Delaine highlights several ways coaches can expand what they offer:
- Seek grants and community support to improve courts and facilities.
- Partner with recreation departments to reach more families and run youth programs.
- Work with local clubs and teaching pros to provide affordable indoor court time, clinics, and advanced development opportunities.
- Stay connected with alumni, who can become advocates, donors, and mentors.
- Build relationships with elementary-school PE teachers to introduce tennis early and create a stronger pipeline into high school programs.
- Run tournaments or events that can fund scholarships and give students affordable chances to compete.
Put Students First
A major theme is making tennis welcoming and accessible—especially for students who may not have private lessons, equipment, or financial resources. Delaine believes every player should have a chance to participate, develop skills, and feel that they belong.
She also emphasizes team bonding before competition. Her teams spend time getting to know one another, practicing face-to-face communication, and working together through simple activities. The goal is to build trust before asking players to compete alongside each other.
A Better Competition Experience
Delaine describes Impact Team Tennis as a fast, team-based format that keeps every player involved. The format includes singles, doubles, mixed doubles, coaching, substitutions, and scoring based on total games won. Because teams continue playing and face similarly matched opponents, players stay engaged even after a tough set.
For her, the value goes beyond tennis: students learn leadership, resilience, communication, teamwork, and how to support one another.
Coaching Advice
Her advice to coaches during difficult moments is simple:
- Let the player talk first. Find out what they are feeling before jumping into instruction.
- Give them one focus at a time. Too much feedback can overwhelm a player. A single clear goal is more helpful than a long list of corrections.
Delaine’s approach is a reminder that the impact of a great high school sports program isn’t measured only by wins and losses. It’s also measured by the relationships built, the opportunities created, and the young people who leave the program better because they were part of it.
