Nearly 100 Birmingham tennis coaches were put through their paces at The Edgbaston Prioy Club on Friday by the GB Davis Cup captain Leon Smith and Jonny Marray the 2012 Men's Doubles Wimbledon Champion, as part of the LTA's (Lawn Tennis Association) Tennis for Kids 2017 programme.
After success in 2016, which saw 13,200 children introduced to tennis, Tennis for Kids is returning for 2017 and will be bigger and better, with 20,000 places on the nationwide programme. Tennis For Kids, in partnership with Highland Spring, was created to establish a tennis participation legacy, following Great Britain’s historic Davis Cup triumph in 2015.
Tennis for Kids aims to get 20,000 5-8 year olds who have never played tennis before, involved in the sport by offering a free 6 week introductory course. This is double the 2016 target of 10,000, which was smashed!
Speaking at the event Leon Smith said: "This is easily one of the best sessions we have run so far this year! There is so much energy in here today and it's great to see the passion from these Birmingham coaches. The 2017 Tennis for Kids programme is all about giving children a fantastic first experience of tennis and securing a legacy for the sport in Britain."
More than 200 coaches are being trained to deliver the sessions in the Midlands alone, creating 4,560 of the free places for children to take the opportunity to have a 6 week introductory course. The training session on Friday saw 93 coaches at The Edgbaston Priory Club where Leon Smith and Jonny Marray, were joined by former professional British Tennis player Naomi Cavaday.
If you would like your child to take part in a Tennis For Kids course bookings will be live from early April. Check the the LTA website (www.lta.org.uk) to book onto a session and a list of venues participating in the programme.