Increasing numbers of primary and secondary school pupils are discovering the joys that learning, playing and competing in tennis can provide thanks to the efforts of Newquay's Heron Tennis Centre and it's Ace Academy coaches.
Heron and it's Ace coaches have been providing tennis sessions for Newquay's Tretherras, Treviglas, Newquay Junior and Trenance Infants Schools for a number of years now. Heron hosts the annual Primary Schools Tennis Competition, which sees the likes of Goonhavern, St. Columb Major, Bishops, St. Columb Minor, Newquay Junior, Indian Queens and Mawgan-in-Pydar Schools bring teams of players to compete at the centre.
We are also proud to provide coaching and annual closed competitions for Truro School (since 2007) and Polwhele House School (since 2010). In the past, Heron has provided Cornwall College students, many of whom were studying sport-related subjects, the opportunity to have coaching, learn the game and see how they could deliver a tennis session. Heron has future sessions in association with Cornwall College in the pipeline.
This year has seen St. Columb Major and Roche Primary Schools begin their association with Heron as our coaches deliver sessions in their school halls and playgrounds. Penair School has also enjoyed coaching and competition sessions held in Heron's indoor courts recently.
The network of primary schools in the Roseland area have recently partnered with Heron. Sessions are run at Roseland Community College on Tuesday evenings with periodical sessions of coaching, fun games and match-play due to be held at Heron on Sundays. For more information on the exciting new tennis programme in the Roseland area and Heron's association with this network of schools, please contact Andy Ayre (aayre@theroseland.co.uk).
For parents wondering how tennis can be fun within the primary school setting, mini nets, temporary lines, small rackets, soft balls and coaching delivered with an emphasis on fun, whilst learning the basics of the game, is the answer. For secondary school and college students, learning the basics of tennis and how to play a match, as well as how it can help you get fitter, is done by varying size of rackets, court sizes and types of balls, plus Cardio Tennis drills has meant any standard of player can have success hitting the ball whilst getting a fun work out at the same time!
As Heron and Ace's Steven Askey explains, tennis is becoming increasingly accessible to children and more and more of them are getting to play the game at their schools:
"Thanks to Heron's team of coaches and the efforts and willingness of an increasing number of teachers and schools to provide tennis, it has meant hundreds more children in Cornwall are getting to play the game. For the majority of children, they are tasting tennis for the first time! It is a wonderful sport to learn and play, providing young people with so many opportunities to develop their co-ordination, ball skills, agility, hand-eye co-ordination, and as a result, are becoming able to rally and play a game of tennis. It has also been wonderful to see how children and teenagers can improve in areas such as their self-esteem, concentration, team work, fair play and thinking for themselves."
Steven went on to say:
"The support and keenness of teachers and schools has been instrumental in the success of our schools programme. Special thanks goes to all those involved."
In the next few months, school sessions continue at Heron and in schools, before the annual Primary Schools Tennis Competition is held at Heron on 22 May.
For more information on Heron's school programme, please contact Steven Askey at the Heron Tennis Centre.
The Heron Tennis Centre is open to everyone to come and play on our indoor and outdoor courts and we have a weekly programme of tennis sessions for toddlers, children, disability players, "Performance" players, teenage and adult beginners, adult social and team players. Please contact Heron on 01637 877555, visit us at http://www.heron-tennis.co.uk/, see us on Facebook 'Ace Tennis Newquay' or pop into the centre's reception to speak to a friendly member of staff.