TENNIS
The aim of the LTA’s Allplay initiative is to enable the next generation of players to pick up a racquet
practising close up is an opportunity that doesn’t come around that often. How- ever, tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed all year round and if people of all abilities can be inspired during the tournament week then that’s great.” Ogan says that many of the club’s high
performance programme players com- plete at national level and can be a real inspiration to the other members. But she’s keen to point out that coaches spend just as much time and effort on players who are new to the sport or want to re- kindle their love for it after a time away.
British tennis facility strategy The Edgbaston Priory investment is just one example of the LTA’s commitment to the British Tennis facilities strategy, which has received substantial investment from Sport England – a major investor in British Tennis. Through this partnership, the LTA has been given financial support to help increase and sustain participation and identify and develop talent. This includes substantial investment in facility improvements, which are a major priority for British Tennis. The LTA’s funding policy is to prioritise
investments that support year-round ten- nis and extended playing hours.
The Lawn Tennis Association’s policy is to
prioritise investment into facilities that support year-round tennis and extended playing hours
As a result, around 80 per cent of
LTA capital investment has been made in tennis centres that offer floodlit or indoor facilities. In the last three months alone, the LTA
has already seen a significant number of grants and loans to tennis clubs up and down the country bear fruit. In May this year, a £1m indoor, four-
court tennis facility was unveiled at Churchill Community College in the North East. This is now available for whole community use, including stu- dents and local clubs. This was made possible thanks to a £347,000 grant and a £200,000 loan from the LTA. Other recently-opened tennis centres
include the Oakgates Leisure Centre in Telford, which benefited from an LTA investment of £370,000 into the £2.2m indoor tennis facility. While £150,000 was pledged for the redevelopment of Bishops Park Tennis Club in Fulham, west
46 Read Sports Management online
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London as well as numerous other proj- ects up and down the country.
Allplay These facility investments are all part of the LTA’s strategy to get more people playing tennis – highlighted by the launch of the NGB’s allplay initiative earlier this summer. The aim of Allplay is to enable the next
generation of players to pick up a rac- quet, as well as providing the platform for first-timers and people returning to the game the chance to enjoy the sport. As part of the campaign, a free-to-join
website
www.allplaytennis.com will be- come an online tennis community. Commenting on the scheme, Draper
said: “The LTA has spent the last four years building the infrastructure to roll out this campaign to its full benefit. This is not a short-lived project, this about helping more people play the game.” ●
Issue 3 2011 © cybertrek 2011
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