Colour coordination helps give tennis bright future

A NEW competition framework for Guernsey tennis has started. The LTA and the Guernsey subcommittee recognise the need for a straightforward, high-quality competitive framework that gives juniors the stimulus they need to get on to and stay on the winning pathway.

Coaches have for some time recognised the value of slower balls and slower courts to make the game easier and quicker to learn.

Different balls and court sizes graded from red through orange to green tennis in a defined framework will now ensure the right competition is provided to the right players at the right time.

With support from Ipes, there will now be a series of six competitions for red, orange and green players.

Red mini tennis is generally for players aged eight and under, orange for those nine and under and green for older players new to competition.

Competitions will be held as a series at various clubs and venues around the island.

Matches will be short in a round-robin format so that all players enjoy the same number of games.

Points will be awarded for entering and scoring points as well as for winning or placing second in the groups.

All these will accumulate over the winter and a final prize-giving will be held in the spring.

To date, two events in the red series have taken place at the Rue Maingy Scout Hall and Ben Foss and Ed Mason have accumulated the most points, both winning all their games.

Ella Huxtable leads the girls after the two events.

This week, La Mare Tennis Club was the venue for the second event of the orange/green series. The first had been held last week at St Martin's.

Over 20 players entered and the event was well supported by many parents.

Foss, more used to competing in the red series, was the youngest competitor but showed his potential, coming through some close matches to win his group.

Sam Mahy was pushed into second place by the narrowest of margins, losing the best of three tiebreaks, 1-2.

The most encouraging thing about the orange event is the number of girls now showing an interest in competition.

Eight from three different clubs played together in one group and Eleanor Rouget from La Mare topped it with one more win than Hayley Winter of St Martin's.

There were two further round-robin groups - one was won by Charlie Le Prevost, with young Will Rouget placing second and the boys' green group was won by a determined Seb Smeed. Second was Toby Falla.

The most pleasing thing about these new events is that all the players showed that they were able to compete on a scaled-down court that is appropriate to their size, strength and ability.

It is hoped this will allow them to develop tactical awareness and a good understanding of the game from an early age and thereby increase the number competing on a regular basis.

With the support from Ipes, the Guernsey committee feel that currently tennis is considered by too many players and their parents to be a 'social game' only.

However, it is hoped more will also regard it as a 'competitive game' and that there will be more juniors looking to compete and train more regularly so that they reach the necessary level to be able to compete for County Cup teams as well as island sides.

The next event in the red series takes place on Sunday 2 December and in the orange/green series on Sunday 9 December.

Entry forms are available from all the island tennis clubs or by email from Jo Robinson on ianrob@cwgsy.net.