P OLICY
© GETTY IMAGES FOR LTA
The Lawn Tennis Association’s plans to increase participation across Great Britain include a £30m investment in redeveloping courts located in public parks
Growing the game
TENNIS
T
he governing body for tennis
future, it needs healthy grassroots – and the
in Britain, the LTA, published
work must start with the youngest players.
its five-year strategy in March
“The insight tells us that if you pick up a
2019. Led by the vision “Tennis
racket when you’re younger, you’re more likely
opened up”, the document
to develop a lifelong habit,” Scadgell says. “So
outlines the five-year plan for tennis from
it’s critically important that we get rackets in
2019 to 2023. At the heart of it is a mission
the hands of more young people. The way
to grow tennis by making it more relevant, accessible, welcoming and enjoyable to all. Olly Scadgell, LTA’s participation director, says that the ultimate ambition is to open
we’re doing that is through our innovative LTA Olly Scadgell, participation director, LTA
Youth programme, which we launched in 2021.” The LTA Youth programme has been designed for children aged four to 18. Packed
tennis up to anyone who wants to get involved
full of fun games and drills designed to develop
regardless of their age, gender, background,
physical literacy, the idea is for more children
ability or disability. “The strategy aims to
to be able to access the sport and have fun
address the historical notion that tennis has not
playing tennis. There are five stages – from the
perhaps been as open to everyone as we would
introductory “Blue Stage” aimed at four to six-
like it to be,” Scadgell says. “So our plan is
year-olds, to the “Yellow Stage”, designed for
headed by a vision to open tennis up to anyone
those aged 11+. In addition, there are the LTA
who wants to get involved – whether that’s
Youth Start courses, which are for kids aged
as a fan, player, coach, volunteer or official.”
four to 11 years old and who are new to tennis. “LTA Youth has been created to help more
YOUNG PEOPLE
children access the sport, whether they play
The LTA strategy outlines how, in order to
in school, at clubs or at park sites,” Scadgell
open up tennis and to ensure the sport’s
says,“For schools, we’ve devised the LTA
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