TOURNAMENT REFEREES MEETING

SHANKILL LTC

September 19th 2007Peter Farrell - Development Officer.

CHILDREN LOVE TO COMPETE!

“Healthy, enjoyable, easy to access competition is arguably the biggest contributor to retaining players in

the game”

LTA (UK) Blueprint 2006.

A MAJOR KEY TO RETENTION/ENJOYMENT

FOR YOUNG PLAYERS:plentiful opportunities to participate in appropriate

competitive environments…

THE REFEREES IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN

IRISH TENNIS BY HELPING TO PROVIDE THAT COMPETITION..

It is vital that the type and circumstances of the competition are suitable to the age

group.

SCALE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR:

• fun (success)

• game development (technique)

• safety (injury)

THE I.T.F., WITH THE `PLAY and

STAY ` CAMPAIGN, HAVE

FORMALISED BEST PRACTICE RE EQUIPMENT FOR JUNIOR

PLAYERS.

IRISH LAUNCH OF `PLAY AND STAY`

Fitzwilliam LTC, July 2007.

MOST RELEVANT ISSUES FOR THIS MEETING:

• type of ball• court size/marking

• racquet size

SUMMARISING

THE THREE BALL SYSTEM:

RED ORANGE GREEN

slower and lower bounce = EASIER!

THE CORRECT BALL MUST BE MATCHED WITH THE CORRECT

COURT..

STAGE 3 - REDRed Ball (sponge/felt) Red Court

Size: +10% Size: 11m x 5.5m

Ages: 4 - 8 years Net: 80cm

STAGE 2 - ORANGEOrange Ball Orange Court

50% slower than standard ball Size: 18m x 6.5m

Ages: 7-11 years

STAGE 1- GREENGreen Ball Green Court25% slower than standard ball full singles court.

Ages: 8+

Recommendation from ITF:

“After children progress through these stages they are ready to

play with a `normal` ball on a full size court”.

HOW DOES THIS EFFECT JUNIOR OPEN

TOURNAMENTS IN IRELAND??

• NOT A LOT!

STAGE 3 - RED.

Mini competitive circuit to be developed- `blitz days`

STAGE 2 - ORANGE.

Difficulty with court markings/lines remains to be satisfactorily resolved...

so...Tennis Ireland proposes to set up a

circuit of tournaments at Public Parks, where Stage 2 courts can be

permanently marked.

So...what are we asking the Referees to do??

PLEASE ARRANGE TO USE THE GREEN BALL ON THE GREEN COURT (full singles

court) FOR ALL EVENTS AT UNDER 10 LEVEL.

WE HOPE TO HAVE AN IRELAND BASED SUPPLIER OF THESE BALLS SOON.

HOWEVER, IN THE MEANTIME THE BALLS ARE AVAILABLE NOW FROM THE U.K:

Type of

Ball

www.tennisplayandstay.com

(ITF) large quantitiesAdd VAT, incls.shipping

www.zsig.com (ITF Approved, small quantities).

Incls. VAT,add shipping

RED 13 euro per doz

19-22 euro per doz

ORANGE 11 euro per doz

16-19 euro per doz

GREEN 11 euro per doz

16-19 euro per doz

COMPETITION WHICH FITS THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD TAKES INTO ACCOUNT:

1. Physical attributes of children (short matches)

2. Mental attributes of children (concentration span)

3. Lack of emphasis on results (more short matches)

4. The value of team competition

5. Use of correct equipment (ball, racquet, court).

www.tennisplayandstay.com

•Challenge Formats

•Elimination Formats

•Group Formats

•Rotation Formats

•Team Formats

•ARTICLES/ADVICE

I believe we are

pushing against

an open door...