Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
GOAT's team consists of enthusiastic young professionals. All trainers at GOAT still play matches at a high level and combine this with conveying their passion to the GOAT Tennis Academy players. The trainers of GOAT form a close team, because they often grew up together and have played with or against each other on the tennis court several times.
Founder and head coach
Björn Vermeulen
"Since the age of two, I have been on and around the tennis court. I completed the entire KNLTB youth training program and gained a lot of national and international competition experience. As a tennis coach, I have worked in several places, both at home and abroad, and I have a globally recognized license as a ‘Professional Tennis Coach’, recognized by The Registry of Tennis Professionals.
From the moment I gave my first tennis lesson, I developed a passion for coaching and mentoring players. From an early age, I had a vision of what training should be like, and over the years I have developed this vision, ultimately resulting in my own tennis academy: GOAT Tennis Academy.
In addition to my tennis career, I have a bachelor's degree in Communication Science from VU University Amsterdam and a master's degree in Sport Business from the Johan Cruyff Institute in Barcelona."
Trainer
Willem van der Grinten
"Tennis has been in my family for generations. From an early age I have been playing tournaments fanatically and I am very involved in this beautiful sport. Now I am 23 years old and I am still working on reaching my full potential as a tennis player. In addition I really enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience as a trainer. Besides playing a lot of tennis, I'm almost graduated as a physiotherapist."
Trainer
Wouter van Leuven
"Tennis has been my greatest passion from an early age. Ever since I was four I can be found on and around the tennis court every day and that has not changed over the years. I have been able to follow the entire youth academy of the KNLTB. During this period I learned a lot and gained great experiences. Currently I am 24 and I am still on the court a lot. In addition to my own tennis, I really enjoy being able to transfer my experiences and vision to others as a trainer at GOAT Tennis Academy. Besides playing tennis, I study biology and I like to travel."
Trainer
Emily van der Werf
"From an early age I was devoted to tennis and that has not changed in all those years. I played at a high level in my youth and gained great experiences both at home and abroad. After high school I went to the US to play college tennis for Arkansas Tech University. I am currently studying medicine at the VU in Amsterdam, I am still on the court a lot and I like to transfer my passion for tennis to others as a trainer."
Trainer
Twan Kok
"I am Twan, 25 years old and a sports marketing student at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Tennis is a great passion of mine. In my youth I played tennis fanatically at a national level. I still do this at my tennis club Het Spieghel in Bussum. In addition to playing tennis, I play football and I go to almost every Ajax match. So sport really lives in me. That is also why I really enjoy being able to share my passion and teach people something on the tennis court."