Joint investment helps regional tennis clubs thrive

ON Tuesday, 8 April, the first-ever Regional Level 1 Development Course was launched by Tennis Victoria at the Barr Reserve complex. Applications for the course were available to any aspiring coach from across regional Victoria. The first of the 10-day course was led by regional coach leader, Jon Watson, and women and girls coordinator Fairlie Lamond. “[This course] marks an important step forward in expanding access to qualified coaches across regional Victoria,” Mr Watson said. The course comes as part of the Sustainable Regional Tennis project, an incentive initiated and supported by Tennis Australia and the Victorian government. Statistics from Tennis Australia indicate only 31 per cent of regional clubs have a coach, even though they account for a significant portion of the tennis landscape. As such, Tennis Australia is hoping programs like this one will bring better support and resources to the region. “Wangaratta was chosen [to hold the course] due to its strong tennis community, enthusiastic local clubs, and growing interest in developing a regional coaching workforce,” Mr Watson said. He said tennis clubs in the North East region align with the goals of the Sustainable Regional Tennis Project; to deliver sustainable tennis opportunities in areas where access to coach development is limited. Mr Watson was pleased with the turnout for a first-time delivery in the region. There were 17 participants on the day, some having travelled for hours just to attend. “The level of engagement and enthusiasm was truly inspiring,” he said. “It was great to see the energy and passion from the local community.” Participants will undergo a series of on and off-court practical assessments for the duration of the course. On completion, participants will be recognised as Tennis Australia-qualified coaches. Mr Watson said this initiative is vital to strengthen tennis networks, increase participation and create long-term opportunities for the regional community. "We're excited to continue rolling out more programs like this as part of our Sustainable Regional Tennis project," he said. For more information on the Sustainable Regional Tennis project, visit https://www.tennis.com.au/vic/sustainable-regional-tennis.

Joint investment helps regional tennis clubs thrive

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