A thrilling and fun pack day saw over 90 teenage girls come together from schools across the North East for the second Tennis Education Day held at Sunderland Tennis Centre.
The Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Education Officer for the North, Laura Lattimore said,
'Getting teenagers into sport can be a difficult task especially girls. This event shows that we can offer teenage girls a wide range of opportunities in tennis not only to participate but volunteer and potentially make a career for themselves'.
The Tennis Education Event was designed to not only give girls the opportunity to speak to key women in the sporting industry but to educate them on how to go about accessing the right information and funding to help achieve a career in sport. The event delivered a series of workshops in the morning lead by the Lawn Tennis Association, the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club (NEVITC). During the morning session two teachers from each school received a FREE place on the Cardio Tennis Teacher Training Course to give them a qualification they can use back at school to get tennis incorporated in the curriculum. The afternoon session gave all students a taste of tennis through a number of tennis activities: Cardio Tennis, VI Tennis, touchtennis, tennis factory, ball girls training and the chance to become a ball girl for the match between Durham University v Northumbria University.
Over the last few years there has been a massive interest through the media concerning teenage girls in sport. Although the current attention is on participation, more and more questions are being ask as to why so few women find themselves in top sporting roles. As part of the event all schools were allocated a day where their students participated in the FREE LTA Tennis Leaders course, giving the girls key leadership skills for the future to help get them started on their career pathway.
The idea of the Tennis Education Event was created, organised and delivered by Stephanie Eadon, Head Coach at Boldon Lawn Tennis Club. Steph has played various sports from a very young age and had always talked about a career in sport, although she lacked the knowledge to get started. Stephanie Said
'Most young people dream of playing at the highest level like myself but realistically that won't happen for everyone and a lot of these young girls will find their way into coaching or teaching. Therefore I created this event to educate as many girls as possible about the opportunities available to them on and off court whilst showing them just how fun tennis really is’.
Arlene Ainsley Membership Recruitment and Development Manager said
'The Tony Blair Sports Foundation is delighted to have been involved in the Tennis Education Day for the 2nd year. It was brilliant to see so many young women and girls taking part in sport and learning new skills'.
Stephanie would like to thank the supporters of the Tennis Education Event, The Lawn Tennis Association, The Tony Blair Sports Foundation, NEVITC, Durham University and Northumbria University. The feedback from both supporters and the students attending the event was fantastic and plans are already being developed for the next Tennis Education Event in 2016.
Stephanie Eadon the Tennis Education Event Organiser went on to say,
“I was delighted with the response from the schools and the girls throughout the Tennis Education Day. Combining education and playing throughout the event encouraged both players and non-players to attend. Hopefully the event has inspired the girls to pick up a racquet and / or pursue a career in sport.”
After the Easter Break a number of the schools will be taking part in the School Tennis Starter Programme (STSP), the STSP will run for 5 weeks allowing students from each school to participate in one Cardio Tennis Session and one touchtennis session a week free of charge.
If you would like to get involved in the next Tennis Education Event as a sponsor, supporter or a school who would like their students to take part please contact Stephanie via email: Stephanie.eadon@yahoo.com or call 07904973212 or 0191 4157340 for more information.
The Tennis Education Event is supported by Northumbria University, Tennis Foundation, Lawn Tennis Association, Tony Blair Sports Foundation and Durham University.