Margaret River Tennis Club and Lawley Park Tennis Club were recently announced as the inaugural WA recipients of the national Tennis Cares Community Grant Program.
The Tennis Cares Community Grant supports projects that demonstrate how tennis can have a positive impact in communities across Australia, particularly those projects that support children and youth.
The grant aligns with the wider Tennis Cares mission to provide pathways and programs for young people in schools and families to contribute to a vibrant community through the sport, with tennis-related activities.
Margaret River Tennis Club was successful in their bid to run a Junior Super Stars Program each Saturday morning. The uniqueness of this program lies in the fact that the sessions will be run by juniors, for juniors. It is anticipated that this will have a two-fold effect in that the experienced juniors running the program will gain valuable work experience, and grow in confidence as mentors and coaches, whilst the young participants are likely to feel more comfortable learning the game from someone closer to their own age.
The range of youth-run program offerings that cater for different ages and levels of experience, coupled with loan racquets and a free healthy morning tea, is expected to draw both new and existing junior players to the program. And with strong alliances already in place with local schools, including Margaret River Primary, Margaret River High School, and St Thomas Moore, Program Coordinators expect a strong uptake from the local students, as well as children in the surrounding suburbs of Karridale and Augusta.
Lawley Park Tennis Club in Albany, are using their Community Tennis Grant to fund their Junior Tennis Club and Junior Tennis Member of the Year Award. The aim of this project is to offer an affordable, welcoming, and social club environment for juniors.
The club have also implemented a points reward system for their juniors, that not only recognizes performance, but good sportsmanship and teamwork. Points are awarded for such things as introducing new members to the club, participating in club busy bees, attending club and regional championships and displaying commendable tennis etiquette and sportsmanship.
Along with playing social and competitive tennis with other juniors, the Junior Club is also aligned with the Saturday Doubles Social Tennis involving many of the senior members of the club. This has proved very successful in that the junior members develop tactically, physically and socially by playing alongside the seniors, whilst the seniors benefit from the fitness and energy of their junior partners. This collaboration has seen a rejuvenation in the junior membership, and is set to ensure future survival and viability at the tennis club.
For more information about Tennis Cares and the Community Grants Project, please visit http://www.tennis.com.au/about-tennis-australia/charities/tennis-cares
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