![](https://www.tennis.com.au/sa/files/2021/01/image0036-700x450.jpg)
Aspiring female junior tennis players are set to benefit from Tennis Australia’s Females in Tennis Development Camp, when the all new initiative hits the Whyalla Tennis Association later this month.
Set to
amplify opportunities for girls and women in tennis,Whyalla will play
host to the first instalment of three camps being rolled out across the state,
with a total of 25 camps being held across Australia.
Thanks to funding which comes as part of the 2019 Federal Government’s $12 million commitment to women and girls in tennis, the camp comes at no cost to players with registrations open to all female junior tennis players aged 9-14 years of age.
Hitting
the Whyalla Tennis Association on Sunday 31 January, participants will enjoy a
full day development camp led by Emma Shoemaker (Tennis Australia
National Lead – Females in Tennis), Codie George (Tennis Australia
Talent Operations Manager – South Australia/Northern Territory) and Sandon
Stolle (National Development Squad Coach – South Australia).
Aiming
to develop player performance both on and off the court, participants of the
female development camps will share in teachings as presented at Tennis Australia’s
national camps; including principles and lessons reserved for the Australian
elite national teams.
“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 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.
Underpinning
the overall philosophy is Tennis Australia’s Wellbeing Program, with activities
designed for nurturing the development of emotionally healthy players.
“The
format of a camp is unique. We’re able to create a comfortable setting for
girls to explore new skills, and we have the time and space to run activities
off court.
“Both
from a wellbeing and on-court perspective, we know the skills we are teaching
in these camps are ones that will be important down the track, especially if
girls are looking to pursue high performance tennis,” Shoemaker continued.
In the coming months, Females in Tennis Development
Camps will also be held in the South East and Riverland regions of South
Australia.
Set to
offer development opportunities for girls across Australia, the Females in
Tennis Development camps will look to identify players for ongoing
opportunities available through both state and national development pathways
and camps. These further opportunities also consist of initiatives through
Tennis Australia’s inclusion talent pathways so girls identifying with a
disability, who currently play tennis, are encouraged to register.
Females in Tennis
Development Camp – Whyalla
Date | Sunday 31 January 2021 |
Time | 10.00 am-4.00 pm |
Venue | Whyalla Tennis Association Nicholson Avenue Whyalla, South Australia |
Who | Girls aged 9-14 Registration open to participants from across South Australia |
Themes | Exploring a key stroke in the women’s game Connection – team, fun & friends Parent session – ‘What girls are looking for from sport’ |
The $12 million investment towards Females in Tennis was announced by
the Federal Government in 2019 and will go towards providing increased programs
to disadvantaged and hard to reach communities throughout Australia in order to
retain more girls and young women in tennis, open up more opportunities for
talent development, while at the same time creating future female leaders in
the sport.
Building on existing programs offered by Tennis Australia the funding
will:
- Provide 3000 girls with a tailored talent
development program - See 1000 girls and women participate in a
community leadership and mentoring program - Grow the number of female coach members by 10
per cent - Close the 12 per cent gap in grassroots participation
- Increase the percentage of girls participating
in competition from 37 to 45 per cent
To register for the Females in Tennis
Development Camp – Whyalla, please click here.
For further
event information please contact:
Emma Shoemaker, National Lead – Females in Tennis, [email protected]
Codie George, Talent Operations Manager – SA/NT, [email protected]
Image credit: Corinna Ridgway – Seeker Images