Recent research showed that while there were around 40,000 players enrolled in a NZ tennis club, there were another 260,000 players who played socially or casually – and weren’t club members.
There are many worthwhile initiatives currently being implemented throughout New Zealand.
Wanganui Tennis Club recently undertook a successful initiative aimed at getting the 'lost generation' back into tennis.
The brainchild of two committee members of the Wanganui Tennis Club believed the major reasons many people, who once played and enjoyed tennis, are hesitant to join a tennis club, are because they feel:
• their poor standard of tennis would cause them embarrassment, and would ruin tennis games for others
• Club Days involve organised competitions for competent players
They obtained their committee's approval to implement the following initiative:
On each Wednesday night in March, adults who wished to "get back to tennis" and beginners were asked to attend a "Free Tennis and Coaching" night from 6-00pm to 8-00pm.
The format used each night was:
• As people arrived they were organised to play doubles, and during this period, the opportunity was taken to identify people of approximately even ability levels.
Then, groups of around eight equal ability people were coached by the club's Head Coach (at no cost to the club)
• The others continued to play doubles, and the event organisers took the opportunity to teach tennis scoring and court etiquette
• At the end of each night's activities, all the new attendees were taken on a tour of the club's facilities, and given copies of the club's information sheet and a "Winter" Subscription form (the "Winter" subs applying from mid February until 31 October 2009, are 50% of the club's annual subscriptions)
As a result of the above successful initiative:
• 26 new people joined the club
• A group of young mothers among them decided to initiate a regular 'Young Mothers' morning - taking advantage of the club's crèche area and its box of toys
• A weekly Summer Club night will be introduced which targets those returning to tennis and beginner tennis players
• The initiative is likely to be repeated in October and March from now on
This photo is supplied by Kate Spencer, Wanganui Midweek, Wanganui and shows the 'Young Mothers' being coached. |
