It didn't take Tennis Yukon long to notice the benefits of having a full-time head instructor.

Heading into its second indoor season, the organization was able to find the perfect candidate for the job when it hired Jan Polivka at the end of September.

Since then, Tennis Yukon has been able to increase the number of programs it offers in the community and has tripled its weekly court time at Yukon College from four hours in 2007 to 12.

Polivka is also the primary coach of junior competitive players Kieran Halliday, Sophia Flather and Ryan Lane.

The three players will represent the Yukon next August at the 2009 Canada Summer Games, which are being held in P.E.I.

"It means everything to us," said Stacy Lewis, the president of Tennis Yukon Association.

"We are quite lucky to have four coaches, but the other three of us have day jobs and we give as much time as we can to coaching, but we can't accommodate the demand. It really offers a viable winter option for people who have been playing tennis through the summer and would like to keep going."

Polivka has played the sport since he was five years old, growing up in the Czech Republic city of Prerov.

In addition to Polivka's tennis skills he also has knowledge in fitness and teaching, which includes coaching physical conditioning at the Tennis Club Precolor Prerov.

Polivka moved to Whitehorse in March and just a few months later passed an instructors certification course along with Tennis Yukon coaches Kyle Marchuk and Leighann Chalykoff.

In July, Polivka won a four set marathon against Marchuk to take the men's singles division at the Capital Cup tennis tournament, which is a competition between Whitehorse and Juneau.

Since taking over as the head instructor, Polivka has focused his attention on both high level athlete training and community based lessons. He works nearly 40 hours a week, which includes around 10 hours of both on and off court training with the Yukon's Canada Summer Games group.

With the Canada Games group, Polivka has been focusing on the fundamentals, including ground strokes, smashes, volleys and serving as well as speed and strength training off the court.

Flather, who will participate in her first Canada Summer Games as a tennis player, said Polivka has helped improve her game.

"He's really good," she said. "I have improved a lot."

Chalykoff, who is the vice-president of Tennis Yukon, said Polivka's contribution to the organization as the head instructor has been invaluable.

"Now we have that talent base in Whitehorse, we don't have to import it," she said.

"He just happened to be here and he loves Whitehorse and the Yukon, so we were all floored I think when he showed up. It was just luck, that is the best way that I can describe it."

Polivka said his goal is to build an even larger tennis community in Whitehorse.

"I love outdoor sports and it's great that I can coach tennis here," he said.

"I have to say the Yukon is the most beautiful place in the world, so I am really satisfied. It's a great tennis community."