Bucks Club League Table August 2009
We believe a good club should provide a comprehensive tennis programme, offering adult and junior members opportunities to get involved with coaching and competition.
A Clubmark accredited club provides a quality tennis programme, has the appropriate procedures and policies in place to ensure a safe environment and a club management team that are proactive and forward thinking; constantly looking at ways to further develop and grow the club.
British Tennis Membership allows us to directly communicate with the tennis person. This FREE membership (for members of an affiliated club) has a number of benefits including the opportunity to enter the club Wimbledon ballot. It also provides each member with a tennis rating, should they require one. It is important that players are able to monitor their progress in the sport, as this is an incentive to continue playing and competing.
Currently, tennis is different to other high profile sports like football and rugby, in that we tend to have a coaching culture at the lower end of the game. Most juniors who join a club get involved in group coaching and do not start to compete or play the game of tennis until they feel they have reached a certain level. We are in the process of encouraging clubs to offer low level, internal competitive opportunities for all ages and abilities; providing a fun, safe and friendly environment in which to compete and further develop their tennis.
Regularly competing juniors are players who have a British Tennis Membership number, rating and have played more that 6 matches in the year. Bucks have the most regularly competing juniors (based on population) in the country, thanks to our top clubs and coaches offering regular competitive opportunities; making competition a routine activity for every club member. We want more juniors playing the game, so please contact your club coach now for details of up and coming internal competition.
A FREE competition Organiser course is now available for anyone interested in supporting their club and/or club coach with the delivery of internal competition. Any tennis leaders, assistants and keen tennis parents are welcome to attend the course. As you can see from the league table, some clubs already have some qualified organisers, so help your club and get involved.
If you would like further details on any of the league table measures or would like to know about Clubmark, Competition Organisers or British Tennis Membership, please contact Abbie Lench, Tennis Development Manager on abbie.lench@LTA.org.uk or call 07984 538454.