A new mini tennis area is the latest development at Almondsbury Tennis Club. Funded by grants from Almondsbury Community Shop, South Gloucestershire Council and the club’s own resources there is now enough room for dedicated Orange and Red Mini courts. Previously the area at the end of the club’s four courts was separated from them by a fence and although there was a hitting wall it was unusable as the tarmac surface had broken up and the space had become used as a general storage area. Now, although the newly laid tarmac surface is not yet marked out as courts, the area is already useful for coaching sessions. In addition the new hitting wall that has been constructed at one end is proving very popular with all members and everyone is making good use of the opened up space.
The development has multiple benefits as not only does it improve the coaching resource but mini members who arrive to practice with parents or friends will have immediate access to the correct size court for them. This also has the advantage that they are not occupying a full size court which, with the club’s inclusive ethos, they have as much right to be on as any senior member, so the extended court space effectively provides a whole new court for the club. In addition there is a secure storage area for all the coaching equipment, which seems to require an ever expanding amount of space.
Head Coach John Kimani is obviously delighted to have a dedicated area for the youngest players to develop their skills and believes it will be a major step in further developing the club’s coaching programme, with the hitting wall being another tool that all members can use to improve their game.
Having raised a total of £8,000 for this project the club isn’t resting on its laurels as even before the tarmac was down on the mini court the fund-raising started to replace the ageing floodlights, which are only just being maintained amidst much grumbling from the maintenance team. So the never-ending cycle of keeping the facilities together that is faced by all clubs continues – just another £20,000 to find this time!