Tennis Hot Shots Community Play Story - Highfield Tennis Club

Written by - Junior Convenor Cushla Caird - Highfield Tennis Club

What was the problem you needed to solve? Many children not enjoying playing interclub competition as they did not feel equipped for competitive play. The club decided that they needed to encourage young blood. Without children experiencing tennis at a young age our junior interclub would decline especially as many children aren't keen to go straight into competitive play. THS (especially when our coach is involved) is a fun and stress-free way for children to learn - my own children experience the lessons, their confidence improved throughout.

What was the solution? We decided to offer internal competition in our THS in our Community Play sessions. Modified equipment and learning through play helps kids to learn in a fun way.

How does Community Play help fix your problem? THS Community Plays brings new members to our club. Fortunately, South Canterbury Tennis (SCT) have been active in getting children into tennis early - similar to first kicks for soccer and ripper for rugby. SCT have offered a month's free THS lessons for any child wanting to learn, then they are encouraged to join a club to continue play.

Although we have been running our hot shots programme for years I think it's really only been the last 2 or 3 where things have started to work really well. We run our lessons on a Saturday morning in small groups, pretty much in age groups so children are playing with their friends rather than ability. Once they get to a certain ability, we move them to an club competition where they play other children from our club on a half court, learning the basics like serving and scoring. Our coach organises the games with the parents involved on each court helping the scoring etc - without parent help this competition would not exist. Once the children gain confidence and can serve from the back line, only then they then move on to interclub.

What are the benefits from Hot Shots Community Play? Children can learn the basics of tennis in a fun environment, it’s just another way for them to have fun on the courts.

How does Hot Shots Community Play benefit the players / the club / the local community? The biggest benefit I see is that it keeps the club in a healthy position with younger players there to help fill the gaps when the older players leave. Over the years I have seen children attending hot shot lessons, then their friends come with them, once they move on the younger brothers or sisters want to come and it continues.

Any hard data / stats you can share with us?. I know that last year we had 24 hot shots (7 moved half way through the season to interclub) and this year we were up to 50 children (6 moving midway through season).

Interclub success? Any child who has moved to interclub has done it successfully, I try and get them to move up as a team and that way they know their team mates. Reduced ‘drop-out’ rate for participants - there haven’t been many children drop out of lessons, some move away or decide to play another sport (usually to be with friends)

What’s next? That’s a big question! My children are getting older and may chose to change sports which could mean that I may move on from running the club, our coach may choose to leave, our association may not continue to offer programmes encouraging children to play, and my wonderful group of parents supporting the programme might not be around forever. Those four roles need to have motivated and encouraging people in them in my opinion for hot shots and even junior tennis to be successful!

Learn more about Community Play HERE!