JUDY MURRAY'S visits to schools are only marginally less frequent than those of Ofsted inspectors.
The GB Fed Cup captain is the evangelist-in-chief for tennis in the UK and yesterday she attended Broadway Academy in Birmingham to lend her support to the launch of the Tennis Foundation's Tennis in Education Strategy, which aims to maximise young people's potential through the sport.
After a five-year programme offering support, advice, funding and free equipment to schools, colleges and universities, Lawn Tennis Association [LTA] chief executive Michael Downey this week announced that Tennis in Education would now become a key part of the wider British Tennis Strategy. It aims to reverse a decline in participation numbers which has seen the amount of weekly players drop by some 150,000 over a five-year period.
"Tennis is so adaptable - it can be played almost anywhere if you have a bit of imagination," said Murray. "Schools are the perfect place for kids and teenagers to try all sorts of sports. Tennis can be played by pupils of any age and ability, using mini nets with softer balls in a school hall or playground.
"The more pupils we can engage with, the more chance we have to stimulate a love of our game that will feed our clubs and parks," she added. "That's why I'm supporting the Tennis Foundation and LTA with the work they are doing to engage all young people, whatever their background, to enjoy all the benefits that tennis can bring whether playing, coaching, volunteering, refereeing or finding a career in the sport."
The Tennis Foundation, who claim that they have already given 2.8m kids the chance to play tennis in school, will increase focus on a long-time Murray hobby horse by providing early-years physical literacy skills to kids aged between two and five, while current and former professional tennis players will be trained as mentors sent into disadvantaged schools to inspire children on and off the court.
"Education is a key strand of our British Tennis strategy and fundamental to our ambitions to get more people playing tennis more often," said LTA chief executive Michael Downey. "The LTA and the Tennis Foundation will continue to work together to deliver a strong and effective tennis offer in the education setting, ensuring a positive early experience of tennis, life-long habits grounded in physical activity and the growth of our game."
The unveiling of the strategy comes at a time of increased focus on the sport north of the border. Jamie Murray has criticised Tennis Scotland for failing to build on the successes of his brother Andy, tennis courts have been omitted from the plans for the National Performance Centre for Sport at Riccarton, Edinburgh, which are now under way, while planning permission has to date been refused for a proposed combined tennis/golf development at Park of Keir, near Dunblane.
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