19 February 2021 | Tennis Queensland
On the eve of the Australian Open women’s final,
Queensland’s junior female players have more reason to feel inspired with the
roll out of a series of development camps just for girls.
Tennis
Maranoa will host
its annual girls and women only camp in Roma ahead of International
Women’s Day and Tennis Australia has announced a series of Females in Tennis
(FIT) Development Camps in six sites across the state as part of the
Federal government’s $12 million commitment to women and girls in tennis.
Rockhampton has already successfully hosted the first FIT Development Camp in Queensland with dates now confirmed for Hervey Bay, Mackay, Toowoomba and Cairns. Details for the Townsville FIT camp will be released soon.
25 FIT camps are being held Australia-wide and are
free to female players aged 9-14 years.
“These camps are designed to bring girls together
and show them that they are an important part of the Australian female tennis community,
and that belonging to this community is something special,” said Tennis
Australia’s National Lead – Females in Tennis, Emma Shoemaker.
Designed specifically for girls and reflective of
what is being seen in the modern women’s game, participants will focus on skill
development, peer connection and unique experiences within tennis.”
Tennis Australia coaches at the FIT camps will
identify players for ongoing opportunities through state and national
development and inclusion talent pathways.
Tennis Maranoa Head Coach, Dean Stansell has
coached for 36 years in 12 countries andhas been holding female only
camps for three years in Roma. He says he started the sessions to address a
shortage of girls participating in the sport.
“When I first came here, there was a lack of girls
playing tennis particularly in the younger levels but this is slowly starting
to change now and we have about seven or eight girls who will be ready to play
fixtures soon,” Stansell said.
“I have asked many people at all levels, including
on the WTA tour why we have this drop in girls and my conclusion is that girls
want to play against girls. They are social beings so they like to have their
friends around. By having a camp where girls come with their friends, their
mothers and grandmothers they will understand the tennis club is not a scary
place and they will want to come.”
Stansell not only covers Roma but travels further
out west to provide tennis playing opportunities for people in more remote
towns.
“I am the furthest west tennis operator in
Queensland and I love working in regional areas. I have a passion for the
sport, it is everything to me and I want to create the feeling that the tennis
club can be the hub of any town.”
Camps Calendar
Hervey Bay
Date: Sunday 28 February
Time: 10am to 4pm
Location: Hervey Bay Tennis Centre
– 79 Colyton Street, Torquay QLD 4655
Register here
Roma
Date: Saturday 6
March
Time: 9am to 12pm
Location: Roma and
District Tennis Club
Mackay
Date: Sunday 7 March
Time: 10am to 4pm
Location: Pioneer Tennis – 6
Leisure Crt, Mackay QLD 4740
Register here
Toowoomba
Date: Sunday 14 March
Time: 10am to 4pm
Location: Toowoomba Tennis
Association, 41-55 Water Street South, South Toowoomba QLD 4350
Register here
Cairns
Date: Monday 26 April
Time: 10am to 4pm
Location: Cairns International
Tennis Centre – 356 Sheridan St. North Cairns, Queensland 4870
Register
here
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