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TEAM Flybe consists of the counties’ players who show potential, who are in committed training programmes, have been identified by the LTA Talent Id structure and compete regionally or nationally.
Flybe have sponsored the 2 counties for the last 3 years in developing tennis and provide this unbelievable opportunity to support the future of tennis and these players in their performance. The players receive 2 training camps, home matches and a trip away to a high performance environment. The players can experience the life of being a tennis player; being independent, responsible and dealing with staying away overnight without their parents.
The training camps are the first of the season, providing the players with an opportunity to get in court with each other as many play at a variety of clubs from all over Devon & Cornwall.
10 green ball players aged 9 and 10 came together at Bodmin Dragon Tennis Centre to train under the guidance of Lucie Ahl (Flybe Ambassador and former GB no. 1) and Debbie Hale (LTA Talent Performance Co-ordinator for Devon and Cornwall). The Team comprised Aimee Polyblank (Penzance TC), Niamh Snell (Leverton Williams Tennis Academy), Beth Cooper (Teignmouth TC) and Roo Woodliegh Smith (Torquay TC), Freddie Stone (Penzance TC), Oscar Pringle and Will Daniell (Truro TC), Caner Bindirin and Dan Hocking (Leverton Williams Tennis Academy) and Jake Upsher (Exeter Tennis Centre).
The day started with a gruelling fitness session with drills for speed, agility, strength and mental toughness. This was followed by 4 hours of tennis, skills and tactical development, finishing off with matches.
Orange ball players and red ball players also enjoyed similar sessions which help to ensure that players understand that the physical side of the game is as important as hitting balls.
Debbie Hale was pleased to report that the standard of all the players is forever improving.
The next TEAM Flybe activity is a trip for the orange ball players to Leeds to compete against players from Bolton and Leeds.