What should the LTA change to be more effective?

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: What should the LTA change to be more effective?

Jan · Hall of fame

Keep up the good work Bob!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree, Bob - no point having an unlimited bonus top-up.

And, in the short term, I have a lot of sympathy for the LTA re the funding of the events - it's difficult.

However, it is rather of their own making. It's been said before but there seems to be zero relationship between the club system and the LTA (two presidents in the London area say they never see sight nor sound of the LTA until, suddenly, they want something. And if it wasn't for free Wimbly tickets, they'd have nothing to do with them).

As you say, it works in France because it's split. Which works because (a) tennis is so much more popular (largely thanks to the Federation in the first place) and (b) the FFT exerts pressure on/works with the clubs so there's a quid pro quo going on.

I've never been in an ITF scheduling meeting but I've been in zillions of the money tournament scheduling ones (which exist as stand-alones but usually form part of a federation circuit). And whether it's county level or regional level it goes like this (shortened version!!!):

FFT County President (paid, lives there): we need some club to put on a Circuit money tournament in October. We've got a gap

(murmuring among club presidents, no one steps up)

FFT: Right. There's two requests for September. One of you is going to have to move to October.

Instant uproar from Club A and Club B... 'no, impossible, it rains in October, we've always been September (even if they haven't), coincides with our back-to-school Open Day....blah, blah....

FFT: well, we can't fund two in September, makes no sense. .... OK, got an idea..... I know it can rain but you, Club A, are near to the FFT county headquarters - what about if we let you have one of the federation courts if it rains? you can move matches there.....

Much grumbling by Club A but he remembers that (a) he's got an application in for a small roof repair that he wants the FFT to approve and (b) he's got two 8 year-olds that are promising and he wants the FFT to include them in their elite county training programme....so..... eventually.....and in bad grace.... he agrees..... (and he'll get 50% of his roof repair approved and one - but not two - of the kids accepted)

And everything is fine

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, some sympathy with the LTA re the funding split though their general largesse in other areas still leaves me feeling that if the real will was there we would have rather more events. And yes, taking steps to improve relationships with clubs would help here and more generally.

An age restiction on the performance bonus scheme again does worry me a bit. Agree re say 28 yos, but the LTA has often seemed to be in another world re ages and particularly the help early 20s could benefit from, often players with still a lot of potential upside but some financial struggles. Will watch for the details with interest, but it is good to see the return of some sort of performance bonus scheme, in principle it having seemed one of the most sensible initiatives and having been pretty unanimously criticised by this forum for being dropped.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 21st of October 2016 12:20:06 PM

EddietheEagle · County player

Bob in Spain wrote:

. . . .
In the UK, the LTA have to fund 100% of the cost. They tried getting clubs involved by putting them out to tender on a joint funding basis and got precisely ZERO response. Clearly with 15k tournaments now having morphed into 25k tournaments, this problem has been exacerbated.

Tennis clubs are unwilling and don't know how to organise things any longer because they've been spoonfed their tennis by an overarching and monolithic LTA, who for so many years have employed hundreds of people to do things that clubs should be doing themselves. Passivity reigns and a sense of initiative at club level has largely disappeared. That stands in stark contrast to what you see in Spain, Italy and elsewhere where the spirit of getting off your backside and organising 'stuff' with the enabling support of the federation which - with the exception of the FFT, are all largely skint anyway - is very much the order of the day.

It's somewhat akin to what happened in Eastern Europe where communism effectively crushed the human spirit to such an extent that they're still trying to catch up today.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Too quick comments - if the LTA are putting in age restrictions for performance bonuses they have to bear in mind players who have turned pro after college and those returning after serious injury.

What incentive do the clubs have to host an event? If they put up the costs they would expect to get something back, but when it is watched by one man and his dog then the clubs will never pay. The only club I have seen do something is Shrewsbury, who put on a dinner with Judy Murray and charged and got good support for the final. Most events go to council or university centres as they tend to be cheaper to hire.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Found this a refreshing and encouraging article:

www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2016/12/22/tim-henman-give-helping-hand-tosimon-timson-aslta-look-develop/

I know nothing about Timson but if Henman rates him, that's a decent starting point. And if Tim is going to be involved, that's to the good.

And Tim's belief in the importance of a group, and (much as I love junior tennis) that junior results, is not what it's all about, is a welcome change from the ever-increasing focus on youngsters as a sign of the health of our tennis.

EddietheEagle · County player

I don't really get how this will transform the nation's tennis fortunes but there again, I'm just a park player:-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2017/01/11/british-tennis-turns-moneyball-winning-formula-simon-timson/

Let's hope he's on to something. The last genius didn't seem to do much.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Looks like a re-hash of players must achieve x by y age or.....out they go!

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

Downey has just resigned:

www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2017/01/12/michael-downey-resigns-ltachief-executive-end-three-year-reign/

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Not successful in all areas but I thought he was doing a pretty solid job. All change again now I guess......

EddietheEagle · County player

I'd like to see those stats on increasing player participation because I still don't see sufficient cause and motivation for playing the sport. There might be a blip because of some "Great Tennis Weekend" promotion but that hardly a wave and without there being a really big idea to get people really stuck in and playing, no reason exists that I can see, why players will carry on playing tennis. Mr Murray revealing to The Times his wish to do something in football as his first port of call post-retirement from the ATP, hardly spells out a vote of confidence either. In fact it might have been the final straw.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Done a runner - lost the sponsorship deal with Aegon, not been able to find new sponsorship, no money to play with, so runs back to Canada for a job he knows and is respected in.

EddietheEagle · County player

That's a good point: sponsorship - the ability to attract and hold it - is an obvious indicator of how well a sport is doing as opposed to what the Ministry of Truth is spouting. We've just won the Davis Cup as well so where are all the wheelbarrows full of cash lining up outside HQ?

indiana · Tennis legend

At least Roger the Dodger was a smooth talker ( really ) which probably helped re sponsorship, even if he did go OTT requiring possible investigation by that Ministry of Truth and certainly the one for Smoke and Mirrors.