Families across the South are being given the opportunity to play tennis every weekend this summer thanks to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and the Tennis Foundation.
The family time sessions were launched across the Capital, Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and Essex over the weekend.
The sessions cost £3 per family and suitable for all ages, aimed mainly at people who either haven’t played at all or have only played a little. They are not formal coaching sessions but provide a perfect opportunity for people to get involved by playing together as a family. We are providing balls which are slower and easier to hit than a normal tennis ball so anyone can play, even if they’re a complete beginner.
Rob Dearing of the LTA Participation team, said: “Tennis is a great sport for all the family. As The Championships, Wimbledon start this week we wanted to give families a chance to try out tennis at informal sessions in parks across London and parts of the South.
“Equipment will be available at each park site and coaches will be on hand to give advice so we hope that people will take up this offer and have some quality family time together on court. Tennis is a game for everyone, whatever their age, ability or sex.
“Our aim is to get more people playing tennis more often and we’re trialling this family programme to support our goal. So get online www.allplaytennis.com/familytime and find out where your nearest park site is and come and join us.”
The park sites involved are:
- King Edward Memorial Park, London
- Downhills Park, Middlesex
- Wandsworth Tennis Academy, London
- Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Sports Facility, London
- Holland Park, Middlesex
- The Phoenix High School, London
- Highbury Fields, Middlesex
- Alexander Rec Ground, Surrey
- Abbots Park, Essex
- Ridgeway Park, Middlesex
- Chingford Memorial Park, Essex
- Hornfair Park, London
- Danson Park Tennis, Kent
On their first visit each family will get a free tube of tennis balls and for those that attend six sessions they will be entered into a prize draw to have a chance of winning a family day out at the National Tennis Centre, where the best players in the country train!
To find out where your nearest park is and when the next free Tennis IS Family Time session will take place visit www.allplaytennis.com/familytime
There are plenty of other opportunities to find out about tennis in your area too. Take a look at www.tennisinlondon.co.uk where you can find out about the best local courts and other opportunities to play.
Join in the conversation with @BritishTennis on Twitter and tell us what #TennisIs to you!