Anyone for tennis ?
MARION McMULLEN finds out how parents can encourage their children to sign up for sporting fun on the court
IT’S game, set and match for youngsters who dream of becoming the next Andy Murray or Serena Williams. The Lawn Tennis Association is serving up 20,000 free courses across the country in 2017 as part of their Tennis For Kids initiative.
It is the second year the scheme has been run and the grass roots initiative is being run in partnership with Highland Spring and is planning to reach even more youngsters.
Free courses and racquets are being offered to children aged five to eight years old who sign up for the six-week course.
Former British number one tennis player Annabel Croft says: “It is fantastic that the Tennis For Kids initiative is back bigger and better for its second year.
“As a parent myself, seeing more and more children taking to the courts is great, and it is inspiring to see them enjoying tennis, having fun, learning a new skill and getting active from such a young age.
“Programmes such as this one are a brilliant way of encouraging children to pick up a racquets for the first time, and fulfil the legacy of our current British tennis talent.”
The project began last year with the aim to inspire 10,000 children to play tennis for the first time. It was so successful that all the places for the six-week course were filled within a week, prompting the Lawn Tennis Association to release a further 5,000 places. Almost half of those who took part have continued to play tennis.
The Lawn Tennis Association’s Alastair Marks says: “Following the fantastic success of Tennis for Kids in 2016 we’re thrilled to bring it back for a second year, even bigger and better.
“We were bowled over with the results last year and wanted to build on the legacy and provide even more children across the country the opportunity to pick up a racket and have fun playing tennis.
“Initiatives such as this are so important in introducing children to a sport they might not necessarily have tried and helping to drive participation in our sport.
“We’ve been working with our brilliant Tennis For Kids coaches to make sure we’re delivering a programme that engages, excites and inspires the kids and look forward to welcome the class of 2017 to the game we all love.”
Tennis For Kids was launched following the historic victory of the Davis Cup team in 2015 to create a new generation of tennis- loving generation.
The free course is led by nearly 1,000 specially trained coaches who have been trained at 16 sessions all over the UK by Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, former British number one players Greg Rusedski and Annabel Croft, and 2016 Wimbledon Wheelchair Doubles champion Alfie Hewett.
The Tennis For Kids course runs all the way through the summer and is aimed at children who have never played before. It focuses on fun and getting kids active and the sessions also teach children how to work with a partner, become a valuable member of a team and, through the partnership with Highland Spring, establish healthy hydration habits. Parents are also encouraged to join in for the final session when 20,000 children will be gifted their first racket.
Les Montgomery, of Highland Spring, says: “The Tennis For Kids initiative will continue to bring more children into tennis and empower families to get the water habit at the same time. We’re excited to see the results this year will bring.”