ToBe (Tomas Behrend) Tennis Academy

From tour life to Alsdorf: the origin of ToBe

The ToBe Tennis Academy is the result of a clear idea that matured across years on the professional circuit. After a career that reached World No. 74 in singles and No. 43 in doubles, Tomas Behrend settled near Aachen and moved his focus from his own ranking to the daily development of players who genuinely want to improve. Mentoring a handful of competitive juniors soon evolved into a structured program anchored at TC Alsdorf Rot-Weiss 1919, supported by partner venues across the Aachen region. The name ToBe points to both his initials and a promise: helping each athlete become the player they aspire to be.

From the outset, Behrend resisted the temptation to build a sprawling destination academy with hotel blocks and crowds of campers. ToBe is intentionally lean. The head coach is on court, not on a stage. Groups stay compact, specialists are added only when they are useful, and every training block is measured against simple performance indicators. The result feels less like a factory and more like an elite training cell embedded in a club ecosystem where daily habits matter as much as raw talent.

Why the Aachen setting matters

Alsdorf and neighboring Baesweiler sit in North Rhine-Westphalia, a short drive from the borders with Belgium and the Netherlands. The climate is temperate. Outdoor sessions on clay typically run from late April through September, when afternoons are mild and evenings are playable. From October through early spring, the schedule shifts indoors across partner sites so that volume and quality never drop. This rhythm suits players who compete in Western Europe, since German, Belgian, and Dutch tournaments are reachable by car and leagues provide weekly match play that sharpens decision making.

The location also brings practical advantages. The Aachen–Düren–Heinsberg district hosts active adult and junior leagues with promotion and relegation, so match intensity finds you if you are ready. Players who need a higher bar can cross into Belgium on weekends, where the calendar offers additional rating opportunities. That cross-border mesh helps ToBe place athletes in competitive settings that fit their stage of development instead of pushing them into long-distance travel before the foundation is solid.

If you want to compare regional training ecosystems, consider the German pro pathway around Frankfurt that you find at the German pro pathway at Waske, or the Polish clay hubs like the clay court development at Kozerki. ToBe belongs to the same conversation but stays smaller by design, with the head coach directly involved in day-to-day progress.

Facilities and the daily base

ToBe’s summer home is TC Alsdorf Rot-Weiss 1919, a traditional club with what competitive families actually use:

• Six outdoor clay courts prepared for long rallies and pattern work
• A ball wall that supports technical repetitions and footwork intervals
• A compact fitness area dedicated to movement quality, strength, and injury prevention
• A clubhouse with terrace that doubles as a social hub for team days and debriefs
• A children’s playground that makes long days more manageable for siblings

When weather turns damp or cold, the academy moves to partner halls such as Baesweiler Tennis-Club, which offers indoor carpet courts with bright lighting and consistent bounce. This pairing delivers training continuity across the year without hour-long commutes.

The toolkit is pragmatic. Players have access to stringing support, video capture on selected courts for technical reviews, and simple analytics during match play sessions. Recovery lives in the details: guided mobility, foam rollers, bands, and breathing protocols that help the body and mind reset between blocks. Nothing is for show. The ethos is to use what works and then use it consistently.

Boarding and living logistics

ToBe is not a boarding campus. Most athletes live locally or arrange short stays with families, serviced apartments, or hotels in the region. That structure suits players who want a serious training base without the cost of international boarding. If you are exploring a move from abroad, the staff can point you toward practical accommodation options and help coordinate schooling and training schedules. English and German are used on court, which lowers the entry barrier for international athletes.

Coaching staff and philosophy

Behrend’s own playing background shapes daily work. He competed for more than a decade, collected wins against top 20 opponents, and later coached professionals and top German juniors. At TC Alsdorf he is listed as a coach with GPTCA A-level certification and has completed Level 1 training with the International Sports Mental Coach Association. Around him is a small team of co-coaches, a fitness specialist, and a mental performance consultant who plug into training blocks.

The philosophy is simple and demanding:

• Fundamentals on clay set your ceiling. Technique must survive longer rallies, changing heights, and lateral stress, not just quick exchanges.
• Useful intensity beats performative intensity. Sessions target specific changes and last long enough to consolidate them without falling into sloppy fatigue.
• Fitness and mental pieces are integrated, not side projects. Movement mechanics, strength, and robustness are trained alongside routines for between-point resets and match processes.
• Small groups and direct feedback win. Squads are run by senior coaches, while Behrend steps in for technical interventions, match coaching, and season planning.

Parents will notice a calm, direct tone. ToBe is designed for players who want to push. It is not a holiday camp.

Programs and pathways

Training blocks adapt to the season and to league calendars. The academy offers a clear set of programs:

• Future Team High-Performance Group. A selective training cell for ambitious juniors and young pros supervised personally by Behrend. Weekly volumes combine technical court work, clay-specific patterns, fitness sessions, and structured match play. Entry is by assessment. Blocks run 8 to 12 weeks with review checkpoints. Price is on request. Ages typically 11 to 19, with level the decisive factor.

• Junior Performance Pathway. Year-round development for committed juniors targeting regional and national competition. Spring-to-autumn training runs outdoors in Alsdorf. Winter shifts to indoor partners. Expect two to five on-court sessions per week plus at least one fitness slot. Price is on request. Ages 9 to 18.

• Adult Performance and Technique. For league players and returners who want measurable change. Individual and small group formats address stroke structure, serve quality, and clay patterns using live-ball progressions. Flexible blocks from 4 to 12 weeks. Price is on request.

• Summer Intensive Weeks. One or two-week intensives during school holidays focused on drilling, point building, and fitness. These are not childcare camps. Places are limited, and groups are level-based. Price is on request.

• Transition to Pro Block. Short targeted blocks for players graduating from juniors or college who need a clay reset before European Futures and Challenger qualifying. Includes scheduling support and daily debriefs. Two to six weeks. Price is on request.

• Private Coaching. One-to-one sessions with Behrend or a senior coach to address specific technical issues, return patterns, or serve development. Available as single sessions or mini-blocks.

If you are mapping the broader landscape, ToBe’s focus on compact, coach-led training contrasts with large fully residential models like those seen in Southern Europe. It also complements regional options across the border, including the Belgian high performance BATD, which can provide additional tournament opportunities within easy reach.

How training works: from technique to tactics

A typical day in season might include a morning technical block on clay, a mid-day fitness session, and afternoon match play with targeted constraints. Technical themes are prioritized by impact. On clay that often means the serve and first ball, depth management, and the ability to use height and spin to disrupt rhythm. Footwork patterns are broken down and rebuilt under fatigue so that quality holds in the third set.

Video is used with purpose. Coaches capture a small number of swings from key angles and return to them after two or three sessions to check if the change has stuck. Pattern drills link technique to decision making. For example, serve to the backhand T, play a forehand to the open court, then consolidate through the backhand corner with margins over the middle of the net. Players are taught to measure success by how often they achieve the tactical intention, not just by who won the drill.

Tactical awareness is layered through match play scenarios. First-strike games force a decision inside four shots. Break-point ladders rehearse pressure moments. On weeks that lead into competition, the academy trims volume and sharpens patterns, emphasizing the now-familiar routines between points.

Physical preparation and recovery

The fitness program is designed to support durable improvement. Athletes begin with a movement screening that flags mobility bottlenecks, asymmetries, or strength gaps. From there, the plan builds around three pillars: efficient locomotion on clay, robust strength that prevents breakdown, and repeat sprint ability that holds up across long matches.

Sessions blend resisted acceleration, lateral deceleration, and pattern-specific footwork, then move into strength blocks that focus on hip and trunk control, shoulder health, and force production. Younger players learn basics of hinging, squatting, pushing, and pulling with technical precision before load increases. Recovery includes guided mobility, sleep hygiene education, and simple nutrition guidelines aligned to training load.

Mental skills and match processes

Mental coaching is not motivational speeches. It is a toolkit that athletes practice on court. Players build pre-point checklists, breathing protocols to reset after errors, and post-point cues that keep attention anchored to the next action. Journals and quick debriefs capture the thought process behind wins and losses. Over time, athletes start to define themselves by controllable behaviors rather than streaky results.

Education, planning, and competition calendars

A development plan is worth little without the right schedule. ToBe plots competition windows that fit each player’s level and school commitments. Juniors might balance league play with selected national events, then add an international week when form and confidence align. Transitioning players are guided through the step from national opens to ITF points, with attention to surface, travel load, and recovery days. Parents receive clear guidance on when to push, when to hold volume, and how to convert training gains into ratings and rankings.

Alumni and outcomes

ToBe keeps the focus on current work, but outcomes matter. Over recent seasons, academy players have progressed from local league teams to regional championships, earned their first national-level wins, and taken the initial steps into international qualifying. A number of graduates have moved into adult league rosters as reliable points at key positions, while younger athletes have advanced their national competitiveness and learned how to prepare for multi-day events. The sample size is intentionally modest because the academy is small. That allows the head coach to stay close to each athlete’s plan.

Culture and community

There is a particular feel at ToBe. Sessions are purposeful, corrections are specific, and praise is earned. Younger players warm up alongside older athletes and see what professional standards look like. Adults and juniors occasionally share court time in mixed-drill formats that reward quality, not ego. The club community matters too. Team days bring families together, and match debriefs on the terrace turn into informal lessons on how to think about the game. Respect and effort are non-negotiable.

Costs, accessibility, and scholarships

Pricing is quoted on request and depends on program, session volume, and court access in the season. Families can expect seasonal plans with defined review checkpoints rather than open-ended commitments. Trial sessions are available so that both sides can confirm fit before a longer block begins. The academy has offered limited need-based reductions when sponsorship partners are available, and guidance is provided to families seeking local support. Communication is direct and transparent so that financial decisions are clear from the start.

What makes ToBe different

• Leader present, daily. The head coach is on court, guiding the process.
• Clay identity. Training builds a base that transfers to faster surfaces but is forged through clay patterns and movement.
• Compact groups. Small ratios allow meaningful feedback, faster corrections, and more accountability.
• Integrated specialists. Fitness and mental work are woven into training, not tacked on.
• Regional match ecosystem. Cross-border scheduling provides competitive variety without long flights or inflated costs.

If you are comparing with larger destination models in Southern Europe or global hubs like the French Riviera, ToBe offers an alternative. It is closer to the scaled-up club models you might see in Spain or at academies like the German pro pathway at Waske, but it stays intentionally smaller, with the head coach in the middle of the daily grind.

Who will thrive here

• Ambitious juniors who want a clay-first education, honest feedback, and a clear path into regional and national competition.
• Transitioning players who need a structured block before stepping into Futures or Challengers, with a coach who knows the realities of the tour.
• Adult competitors who prefer measurable change over generic clinics and are ready to invest in proper technique and patterns.

Future outlook and vision

The academy’s next steps focus on depth, not size. Plans include expanded indoor access to reduce weather friction, incremental technology upgrades for more precise video and tactical statistics, and recurring coach education clinics to raise the standard of training in the region. The goal is to maintain the academy’s personal scale while increasing the quality of inputs that drive player progress. Collaboration with nearby performance centers and selected European partners will continue, creating a simple path for players who occasionally need a camp week in a different environment.

For families exploring European options, pairing a home base like ToBe with occasional visits to larger centers can work well. Clay-heavy intensives at places such as the clay court development at Kozerki or targeted trips across the border to the Belgian high performance BATD can add variety while keeping the core plan stable.

Conclusion: a precise, personal route to progress

ToBe Tennis Academy is built around a simple promise. Keep groups small, keep the head coach present, and make every week count. The setting near Aachen delivers year-round training, meaningful league play, and quick access to international events without heavy travel. Facilities are sensible and well used. Fitness and mental coaching are integrated rather than optional. Programs are structured so that athletes know when and how they are progressing. For the right player, this is a precise, personal route to progress on clay and beyond. If your goal is measurable improvement guided by a coach who has lived the demands of the tour, ToBe offers a grounded, high-touch environment that rewards commitment and consistency.