My story Francisco Bou
I was born in Burgos in 1979.
I began to play tennis at the age of seven and at the age of fifteen moved to Barcelona to attend a tennis academy on a full-time basis. I wanted to improve every aspect of my game and become the best player i possibly could.
Here I was the one of the youngest students, training regularly with professionals already in their twenties, and was lucky enough to spend time at different academies and learn from many top coaches.
And in the ATP Challenger level tournament later that year in Barcelona I lost a closely fought match against the eventual runner up Nicolas Cutelot of France, #110 on the ATP list by a score of 6-3 / 7-6.
But instead of improving my progress began to level off. I spite of all my dedication and effort eventually I had to face the painful reality that I would have to bring my career to an end, in many ways before it had really begun.
Soon I was travelling across Europe, competing in ATP Future events, and managing to win enough matches to obtain my first ATP ranking points in both singles and doubles.
By the year 2000 my technique and ability was of a high enough level for some of the best players in the world to ask me to spar with them. A memorable moment for me came at the ATP Bucharest when I performed this role for Alex Corretja who ATP Masters Champion only moths before and who number #5 on the ATP list at the time.
I started to make coaching in Barcelona in 2009.
I was working with players that wanted to get their first point ATP like Carlos Capel could get it and in the evening working in the Tarbes Program from the club tennis Moli.
I founded Coaching Tennis Barcelona in 2012.
In 2016 I came to UK and I founded Coaching Tennis London.
I was in Kings Langley and after that in Batchwood Tennis Center.
LTA Program
During these 7 years in Batchwood we have collaborated with the LTA
- Coaching Tennis collaborate with the LTA program regional training Under 12 Boys and Girls with Sarah Hylton.
In March 2019 - Coaching tennis collaborate with the LTA program regional training Under 12 GIRLS with Sarah Hylton. Started in-20th April 2018 till 13th July 2018.
Based in the UK, we carry out tennis camps every half term and we follow our players from Barcelona, who I program and always supervise with the watchful eye of our coach Arnau Moreira, who keeps me informed of the player’s progression.
My Philosophy
I feel very afortune to be able to play this sport all my life and carry on working in my passion.
I believe that any player can improve doesn’t mind the age, doesn’t mind the level, the most important the desire to improve.
Only I want two things in my classes
Do your best
Stay positive
After this I am pretty sure that the players will enjoy and improve their game.
Tennis is based in Technic, Fitness and Mental depends of the necessities of the player I work this three aspects or one more that others. I retired like tennis player with 26 years old , had many coaches and was in several Tennis Academies in Barcelona and something important I learnt in the end of my career that to be honest I would have to know it before.
I know the things that I made well and no so well and teach my players about my experiences to get their best level.
Francisco Bou Alameda is a great coach, a coach who offers a lot of quality in their training plan, with patience and dedication. He knows very well transmit knowledge for the player to get the best of oneself and pass through one of my best moments as a player, taking my first ATP point
My son 13 years old kid has training at Francisco tennis academy in a last 12 months. During this time my son has improve, actually, everything: his tennis skills, his way to approach a game, his physical condition, his mentality.
Francisco was traveling with us at every tournament in Barcelona giving all the time good advice regarding the game. So we can see the results: My son start to reaching in the final at many tournaments and also win some of them, in Spain, Romania and Germany.
Thank you Franchi, we`ll definitely continue to training with you.
Our New Coach In Barcelona: Arnau Moreira
Practice in Barcelona and supervises by me online and in person when I go to Barcelona in tennis camps or clinics , working in the line that the player needs more to improve faster. Arnau one excellent coach with passion to get the best of his players.
Arnau es un gran entrenador, que no tan solo enseña las habilidades tecnicas del tenis , si no que involucra y fomenta a nuestros hijos valores tan importantes como el respeto , compañerismo , humildad , esfuerzo y sacrificio , ayudando a futuros campeones a crecer ante las adversidades y ser mejores tenistas y mejores personas.
Arnau no es solamente un entrenador o monitor de tenis. Desde hace 4 años entrena a mi hijo Adrià a tenis y estamos encantados con su trabajo y dedicación.
Cuando digo que no es solamente un entrenador de tenis es porque Arnau se ha convertido en una persona especial para Adrià y muy importante en su día a día, tanto dentro como fuera de la pista. Como todos sabemos los niños buscan referentes también fuera de casa y son muy importantes porque a veces sus palabras tienen más efecto que las nuestras como padres.
Arnau va más allá de dar clases de tenis, técnica, físico, psicología deportiva, etc… se involucra con el niño y lo ayuda tanto en su deporte como en su personalidad, ayudándolo en tener una buena actitud social y escolar.
En definitiva, es un gran entrenador de tenis pero lo más importante es que es una gran persona y estamos muy contentos y satisfechos que Adrià pueda compartir y disfrutar con él del deporte que le apasiona.
Gracias Arnau!
No es fácil, la verdad que no lo es; encontrar a un excelente profesional y coach del mundo del tenis y aun mejor persona… así es Arnau Moreira, quien a pesar de su juventud, ya acredita una larga experiencia como docente de este deporte, que la aplica tanto a niños y niñas, como adolescentes y adultos; tanto en clases colectivas como Individuales. Tener la suerte de que en estos años haya sido el entrenador de mis hijos, un orgullo No soy de dar alabanzas de manera gratuita en reseñas, pero en este caso, la mía está plenamente justificada!
Bravo Arnau!
Tennis Camp Barcelona August 2023
Testimonials
Barcelona tennis camp was amazing. the courts were very nice and well looked after, club tennis el moli was a nice place with good food and very nice people everywhere.
Fran was a very good coach with lots of variety as always and arnau was amazing to play with and against and a great funny person!! the fitness was very tough but very good and fran was always pushing me to my limits which i loved, it was an overall great experience and i hope to do it again next year!
La verdad que ha sido un placer que Joan estuviese contigo y que haya aprendido tanto durante esta semana. Trato espectacular en lo personal. Sois TOP
Hola soy Hugo. La semana del tenis camp ha sido muy divertida por la variedad de cosas que hacemos. Empezando por las 3 horas de tenis donde he aprendido a mejorar todo tipo de aspectos como el swing, saque, slice y footwork.
Después de esto el físico también ha sido muy importante y aunque de primeras acabé muy cansado, los siguientes días noté cómo mi físico mejoró y me ayudó a desplazarme en pista con mucha más facilidad. Los entrenadores son de alta calidad porque enseñan muy bien con todo detalle y lo más importante es que hacen la clase entretenida ya que son muy divertidos.
Sin duda esta semana me ha resultado un 10/10.
Fran has been coaching me for 2 years and I have enjoyed every lesson with him so far. He is a very genuine and kind coach but what makes him stand out from other coaches is his depth of knowledge as well as his great understanding of the game.
Recently, we went to Barcelona and it was one of the best experiences I have had. I was able to play with a variety of different players and gain experience on the clay courts which aren’t very common in the UK. Fran was a great mentor and coach as he challenged throughout all parts of the day. I could really see my tennis improve and would recommend the experience to all!
The tennis camp was great. Sasha found it challenging and rewarding. An excellent opportunity to switch off from everything else and focus entirely on tennis. I fully trust the development path you have in mind for Sasha and I could see how much progress has been achieved in 5 days. Sasha had issues for many years (like catching the tennis racket or keeping the distance between her body and arm during forehand) and it was addressed and fixed in just 5 days. She played 2 tournaments since we came back to the UK – 14U and 12U. 14u was challenging as tiredness from the trip was still there. 12U was an amazing experience, she challenged and nearly won the girl who was always a much stronger player. Last time Sasha played her was 4-0 4-0, this time 2 hour match 6-2, 6-7, 10-7. A very close match and Sasha showed a fighting spirit and skill that she didn’t have before. We understand that tennis life is a journey, not a destination. Every minute on court is an opportunity to improve and this camp was an incredible leap forward, that would probably take Sasha several months to achieve the same result.
Also wanted to praise a choice of facilities and structure of the camp. A good balance of exercise and rest time. El Moli is a great tennis club, not far from Castelldefels. Castelldefels is a beautiful place, Gimeno – is a great aspiration for a tennis player and spending the time at the beach at the end of the day was a great ending for the day.
I asked Sasha what she thinks about the tennis camp and she simply said that everything was amazing! She loved the experience, tennis, swimming pool and sun. Special thanks from Sasha to Arnau. She struggled with fitness and he was so supportive and helped her to overcome the struggle. To be honest, she is very proud of her fitness running achievements. 
She now has a goal – we told her if she keeps playing tennis well, she can go to tennis camp in Barcelona again.
My son had an amazing time in Barcelona. He loved the experience of training on the clay with boys and girls his own age and also getting the opportunity to play with and against Spanish players. The sunshine just makes it even better! CT El Moli were very welcoming, and the facilities were excellent. Fitness on the beach was hard work but made to be fun. Fran and Arnau are great coaches and come highly recommended. We will definitely be coming again soon.
This was our second trip to Barcelona and the first with Fran, who is our coach from home. Our u14 player enjoyed playing with training partners from the UK and local players, getting to know everyone better and making some new friends.
The courts and facilities at the club were excellent, coffee and food all good with plenty of choice and very easy for parents to hang out. Afternoon fitness on the beach was lots of fun and the environment is just right for a focused training block, the week gave us plenty of inspiration to build upon and has been a great start to our Summer. We’ll certainly be back for more.
Tennis Camp Barcelona April 2023
Testimonials
Agradezco la semana que mi hijo ha podido tener contigo, ha sido realmente dura pero sobretodo muy satisfactoria s nivel de entreno, tanto técnico-mental-físico, cómo de valores.
Gracias por todo, Joan esta realmente muy ilusionado con el programa.
We went with my 11yrs old daughter for tennis academy in Barcelona. It was such a great experience. Coaching was as always on a really high level, very small group of kids, 2 coaches, so each player received plenty of coaching/ attention from Francisco. Morning sessions were perfeclty timed, intensity wasn’t too high, which allowed for a really intense fitness session later on. 5h in total . Midweek kids had an oportunity to play few matches with players from other countries and test newly aquired skills.
Facilities are perfect, with great food options for breakfast/lunch or dinner.
This academy is such an exceptional value, only 5 days and i could see progress my daughter made, she was really pleased with the academy, and only wished we had extra 5 days.
Thomas absolutely loved his week with Fran in Barcelona. The days were really well structured , with three hours of tennis in the mornings followed by really energetic, fun fitness sessions on the beach in the late afternoons. The small group of three worked really well as Fran could spend time focusing on each player’s individual needs but at the same time the players had a lot of fun with each other. Thomas made two new friends that he will definitely stay in touch with.
He also loved playing at two different clubs and having the opportunity to hit with some academy players was fantastic. It really was a great week and Thomas is already asking when he can go again ! Thanks Fran!
Oh and the coffee at Club Moli is delicious.
1. TENNIS IS COMPOSED OF
- Physical Fitness
- Mental strength
- Technical skill
At a certain moment in my tennis I needed to have given priority to improving my leg strength, speed and stamina than to my strokes.
But I often covered up my inability to get into the correct position for the high percentage shot – by choosing the ones that did not require so much physical effort. Instead I too often played low percentage, risky shots.
The fact that I often had the skill to bring these off and win a point I should have lost only lead to even more confusion.!!
But against good players too many times there reached a point where I simply couldn’t get into position to play the shot I needed to impose my system of play.
Simply put:
My strokes had one level & My legs had another!!
As a consequence I could never achieve consistency in my game.
2. DEDICATE TIME TO ALL YOUR SHOTS
I only perfected my volley when i started to give classes after leaving the world of competition. I had simply ignored it before, preferring to search for winners with my backhand and forehand and only come to the net when the volley was very easy to put away.
I learnt late that if you want to be a good player you have to dedicate time to all your shots.
Another shot that players don’t practice enough is the Slice. This shot si extremely effective: When you arrive late to the ball you can defend low and deep and slow-so that your opponent cannot gain a dominating position to win the point. You can also use the slice to change the rhythm and force your opponent to bend.
Every day we practice the entire range of shots.
3. DIET!!
No-one ever explained to me the importance of choosing the right food in reaching the highest athletic standards – of how you can recover faster and train harder when you eat like a champion.
At the time my diet contained too much Coca-Cola, refined pasta and red meat.
This is my own personal story in the world of professional Tennis.
So that you not to make the same mistakes that I made I now dedicate my time and effort to ensuring our Players achieve
a solid, comprehensive base to their game.
– Our system analyses the priorities for EACH player at every moment in time – in general terms of fitness, mental preparation and Technical skill and specific requirements in each category so that she or he can make the very best use of their time and energy.
During the last two years, Coaching Tennis Barcelona has collaborate with C.T MOLÍ and their Base Academy (Players from 6 to 17 years old).
I would like to thank you for this opportunity.
