The Future For HCTC - and how we
get there
Facilities
The council has refurbished tennis
courts at London Fields and Millfields and there is
the intention to provide quality tennis courts across all of the
borough's
parks.
The players of HCTC are progressing
very quickly and several junior players are now playing at
county level. So that these talented individuals progress to
the next level, we need them to be able to put in additional
hours of practise. Currently there are no floodlit tennis courts in
Hackney and consequently it is a key priority for floodlighting to be
provided in one or more of the borough's parks.
Similarly, there is a need for
performance courts and a variety of surfaces should be considered.
Clubhouse accommodation needs to be
provided for all the borough's courts.
There is a need to build an
indoor facility in Hackney to accommodate year round training. The
nearest indoor facility is Islington Tennis Centre and this is
operating at near capacity.
Tennis
Development Plan
A borough - wide management plan
needs to be devised for all the tennis courts in the borough.
It is the intention to increase
participation in tennis across the borough using both Leisure
Connection Tennis Action and the development work based
around the Hackney City Tennis Club.
Adults and juniors will be targeted through a series of organised
playing and coaching courses and also through a number of Play Tennis
Days in the parks.
Regular competitive events and
holiday programmes will be organised.
Efforts will be made to encourage residents from a number of Black and
Minority Ethnic (BME) groups to take up tennis and to join the local
clubs in their local park.
- Increase
Standard of Performance
To improve the performance
levels of junior players, the Hackney Performance Programme follows the
LTA Long Term Player Development Programme. This is the individual
programme for players between the ages of 6 years and 18 years.
Through coaching sessions, the schools programme and talent ID days,
the
Hackney programme aims to target talented individuals and train them by
way of a 3 tier squad system.
There will also be a range of competitive opportunities available
ranging from mini red competitions to individual age group tournaments.
This programme should give all Hackney children the opportunity to be
the best they can be as tennis players. It will open the door to many
playing and educational opportunities.
The adult performance programme will be mainly club based and will give
many adults the opportunity to play competitive tennis.
The Hackney City Tennis Clubs
programme aims to provide coaching expertise advice and support to all
the Hackney Primary, Secondary and Special Schools. Provision of
equipment and improvement of facilities are also high on the list of
priorities. The programme also aims to set up cluster squads and
provide a full competitive programme.
HCTC [formally Clissold Park
Junior Tennis Club] is the only tennis club in Hackney. It is the
intention to develop a number of satellite tennis clubs at the
refurbished courts on London Fields, Millfields and Hackney Downs.
The courts at London Fields were
reopened with a 'Play Tennis Day' organised by Clissold Park Junior
Tennis Club and there was a great deal of interest in setting up a
local club at the site.
- Coach
Development /Education
The HCTC programme aims to employ a
team of experienced coaches to deliver the tennis development programme
in schools, tennis clubs and centres across the borough. This team of
coaches will be encouraged to meet regularly and continue their
coaching education by attending LTA courses, relevant Sport England
courses and possible coach exchanges.
The programme also aims to recruit
and train individuals from community to be qualified coaches.
Links with local schools and colleges are also planned and the
development of a Tennis Academy should also be considered.
Hackney
Voluntary Action employs a Sports Development Officer whose role is to
engage with local sports and community organisations and to assist
willing volunteers to find opportunities where they can make positive
impact within their local community.
There will be a number of volunteer
opportunities at each of the tennis clubs who can assist with coaching
courses, tournaments and general administration duties.
The annual London Heathrow Games
provides the opportunity for Hackney tennis players to play against
other London Boroughs.
Most other London Boroughs have
established tennis clubs from which they can select their teams.
Previously Hackney has been unable to compete on equal terms.
The establishment of borough
performance squads should alleviate this problem and Hackney should be
able to compete on more equal terms in the near future.
The recent Hackney Youth Plan consultation process revealed that young
people want to see for more sporting opportunities provided for them
across the borough.
HCTC has recently participated in an LTA pilot scheme aimed at
retaining mini tennis players in sport and attracting more teenagers to
take up the game. The scheme proved to be successful and should be
launched nationwide in 2005.
The London 2012 Olympic bid will
provide Hackney and the whole of East London with huge opportunity to
improve quality and variety of sports facilities.
The bid process is enthusing local
school children. The Council's Sports Services team are already working
with the Learning Trust and other key partners to offer playing
opportunities in a number of Olympic sports.
The youngsters of today are potentially the future Olympians in 2012
and what could be a bigger incentive than having the opportunity to
compete in the Olympic Games in your own back yard.
Contact us
for more info
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