Hotspots - the joined up thinking approach to local tennis delivery
The Hotspots are being developed across the country to develop all the elements for successful delivery of tennis in the community.
Take a look at the Hotspot Strategy here
Hotspot component elements
- Delivery in schools
- Delivery in parks
- Coaches
- Funding
- Linking with a tennis club, satellite and high performance centres
- Business Plan
- Competition Plan
- Tennis Delivery Plan
- Marketing Strategy
Case Study - Work in Progress:
"We fulfil those criteria" was the first thought of Totally Tennis' Centre Manager Jo Brett when she read the Tennis Foundation's new Hotspot strategy document, designed to ensure that grassroots tennis is delivered in such a way that the number of people playing increases and tennis can become the second most popular sport in the country after football.
courtesy of The Basingstoke Gazette
The club which has been running in a Basingstoke park for the last eighteen years was founded by Tennis Director Nigel Long providing a tennis programme that was affordable for all.
- the centre began with four court outdoor club.
- It is now an award winning indoor tennis venue.
With investment from the LTA and the Local Authority, based on the clubs achievements it now has four indoor and four outdoor floodlit courts. With a fantastic track record of producing national and county players, the club has also produced twelve home-grown coaches through its apprentice scheme.
Nigel Long developed the Totally Tennis Junior Leaders Award which has LTA recognition, to provide players aged from 14 the opportunity to gain a tennis qualification and retain them in the game and to date 30 players have gained the award. The club has also successfully forged links with clubs and players in other countries giving Totally Tennis players opportunities to play and compete abroad.
The programme contains;
- junior and adult coaching
- competitive programmes
- complete beginner courses
- national standard players
- Development and performance squads
- mini tennis programmes
- elite sessions
- pay and play clubs and adult courses
- fitness sessions and Matchplay
Totally Tennis & Schools
The schools programme has also achieved LTA recognition as one of the most successful schools programmes in the country. Curriculum and after school sessions are offered hand in hand with taster sessions and tennis assemblies.
Lesson plans are given to teachers, who are encouraged to be involved hands on with the coaches and to continue tennis in their own PE lessons.
courtesy of The Basingstoke Gazette
The club also runs teacher training sessions at both the club and schools themselves.
The schools competitive programme is run and sponsored by the club. Every summer local primary and secondary schools are invited to participate in the annual Primary and Secondary schools tournaments. Secondary schools also play in the Totally Tennis Winter League which runs every year from October - March. The local college train weekly at the centre which includes access for disabled players, as well as playing all their matches here.
The club is the only one in the county with a full-time Community Tennis Coach who responsible for the programme at the City Tennis Club which runs at the club's second venue in the town, Stratton Park every year from April to September. This facility has six outdoor courts.
Praise for Totally Tennis
"I would recommend the centre and its programmes based on its strong focus on developing community tennis and in particular its strong schools programme, enabling children of all ages and abilities to play the game of tennis. The programme, which regularly attracts children from all over the county, is well known to the LTA for its good work."
Simon Johnson
TDM Hampshire & IOW LTA
"The Borough Council has worked closely with Totally Tennis over a number of years to provide high quality tennis opportunities within the borough. As a funding partner for this post (Community Coach) we have seen a sustained increase in participation in tennis as a result of employing a full time coach and strongly support its continuation."
"Continued funding of the Community Sports Coach will enable Totally Tennis to deliver a high quality programme of activities and increase participation in tennis for a range of target groups across the borough."
Steve Welch, Sports Development Officer
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
The Totally Tennis programme is highly valued within the local community, providing tennis for all - working with the Tennis Foundations Hotspot Strategy would enable the club to focus on areas for improvement and development and the club is ready and waiting to take up the challenge.