Located in Lake Nona, Orlando, Gooding Todero Academy has developed a reputation as a boutique training environment for junior tennis players looking to reach the college or professional levels. Led by directors Jay Gooding and Jorge Todero, the academy focuses on small training groups, strong fundamentals, and long-term player development.
The academy was founded in 2020 after the two coaches, who previously worked together within the USTA system, decided to create their own program. “When I finished working at the USTA, Jay proposed starting an academy together,” Todero said. “So we started in 2020.”
Unlike larger academies, the program intentionally keeps its numbers limited. “We keep it small on purpose,” Gooding explained. “We keep the numbers pretty low just so the coach-to-player ratio is a little more quality over quantity.” The academy typically works with about 20 to 30 full-time players, who train twice a day from Monday to Friday. “We have two sessions a day, morning and afternoon,” Gooding said. “Fitness is included in that. We leave the weekends open because a lot of the kids are competing or they need to take that time to take a break.”
Both directors bring decades of experience from the professional tennis world. Gooding grew up in Australia and competed on the professional circuit before moving into coaching. “I grew up in Australia and tried my luck on the tour for quite a few years,” he said. “I got to play the Australian Open. That was sort of the pinnacle of the events that I played in.” After stepping away from professional competition, he worked as a coach in New York and later joined USTA Player Development, where he worked with several top American players.
Todero’s career also spans decades in international tennis. Originally from Argentina, he played during the same generation as Guillermo Vilas before transitioning into coaching. “Like everyone, I started playing tennis,” Todero said. “I’m from the same generation as Guillermo Vilas and we traveled around the world trying to progress and do the best possible.” He later worked with the USTA for many years before launching the academy with Gooding.
At Gooding Todero Academy, the coaching philosophy is built around mastering the fundamentals rather than searching for shortcuts. “There is no magic formula,” Gooding said. “There’s no special drill that champions do. A tennis court is a tennis court.” For him, the most important element in development is consistency. “I think the number one thing is consistency,” he said. “There’s no quick fix to improvement in tennis.”
Training sessions focus heavily on basic skills and repetition. “A lot of the work we do here is very basic,” Gooding explained. “The first rule of tennis is hit the ball over the net and in.” He believes many players spend too much time chasing complex techniques instead of mastering fundamentals. “One trait that all the top players have is that they do the basics well,” he said.
Movement is another key pillar of the academy’s approach. Todero emphasizes that players must learn proper footwork from the start. “From the first day,” he said. “We put a lot of emphasis on how players move.” Gooding also believes movement and strategy are often overlooked in American junior tennis. “Where I grew up, everything was about how to play the game,” he said. “Here everyone has a good looking forehand and backhand, but not that many people know how to play the game of tennis.”
For both coaches, developing strong competitors is just as important as teaching technique. “There are a lot of good ball strikers,” Gooding said. “But there are not too many good competitors.” Learning to handle adversity is part of the process. “You have to know how to lose,” he added. “When things are bad, do you fight harder or do you fight less?”
Technology has also changed how players train. “The technology helps us a lot,” Todero said. “Through video it’s very easy to show players what we want to teach.” At the same time, he believes modern distractions can be a challenge for young athletes. “One of the biggest enemies in tennis is distractions,” he said. To keep players focused, the academy maintains strict training rules. “We are very strict,” Todero explained. “We don’t allow cell phones during training or on the court.”
Since opening in 2020, the academy has helped many players move on to college tennis programs. “We already have sent 23 players to university,” Todero said. Gooding sees college tennis as a key pathway for many young athletes. “The achievement itself is getting to college,” he said. “That’s why you play junior tennis.”
Several players from the academy have committed to top programs such as Stanford, Texas A&M, Illinois, and Berkeley, while others continue to compete at the highest levels of junior tennis. One recent example is Ronit Karki, who reached the final of the Wimbledon junior tournament before committing to Stanford. “Top 20 in the world junior, made the final of Wimbledon juniors,” Gooding said. “He’s doing great.”
For Gooding and Todero, however, success is measured not only in rankings or results but also in personal growth. “Consistency, patience, discipline, hard work and resilience,” Gooding said. “Those character traits transcend everything.” Todero believes passion for the sport remains the most important factor. “The first thing is that the player has to love the sport,” he said. “They have to feel passion for tennis.”
To learn more about Gooding Todero Academy, its training programs, and player development philosophy, visit goodingtoderoacademy.com or follow the academy on Instagram at @gtatennis. The academy is located in Lake Nona, Orlando, just minutes from the USTA National Campus, and welcomes junior players looking to pursue high-level competition, college tennis, or professional careers.
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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Photo credits:
Gooding Todero Academy