Team tennis 2018 ( Formerly Aegon )

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Team tennis 2018 ( Formerly Aegon )

Mark1968 · Intermediate Club Player

Unfortunately the lack of positive comments on this post, in fact the lack comments full stop tells you all you need to know A1.
There is enough tennis to follow with main tour, challenger and futures without following team tennis. I also follow BT Tier 1 & 2 events but most don't bother with this, it's only the few hundred of us on here who have any interest in tennis below the main tour anyway.
Following TT, would be a bit like a Manchester City supporter concerning himself with sunday morning football at his local park, a waste of time.

As for sponsoring people you could argue you got some return with Marcus 18 months ago even though his time appears to be well and truly behind him but your sponsoring of Pauffley beggared belief. Funding a man who's career at best has been one long stagnation with not even a hint that he might improve or play at a higher level defied any logical thought process. If you are going to sponsor someone do so with a young (16 - 20 year old) player who is showing potential rather than someone in their mid 20's who will never progress.

However I wish you the all the best with this and admire your passion.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Mark makes some good points.

But I would just like to say I still support team tennis far more than some guy's trip to the south pole.

Fine, he raised some money for the Gurkhas. But how much did the trip cost? Did that come out of the money raised? (Which is straight out of the Gurkhas pocket). Or was that separate sponsorship? In which case why not just donate that money directly to the Gurkhas? The trip is bound to have cost more than 35k.
If any sponsored trip costs more than the money raised (or even close), just give the money to the cause directly - otherwise it's simply a way to fund (rather deceitfully) your own glory trip jolly.

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

A1 tennis academy wrote:
I guess national team tennis is considered by most of you guys as a waste of time but it was an opportunity to have a sponsored player a little PR for the sponsor and the funding did not do marcus willis any harm and helped neil pauffley for 12 months
I be interested to know if members on the forum feel it's a waste of time and money as I getting a lot of opposition from fellow directors who feel i am on a hiding to nothing and neither the players or British tennis public appear to be really interested in a British national club league
i have consequently sponsored instead Scotts Sears record breaking trek to the South Pole in aid of the Gurkha welfare trust

I for one think the competition is one of the best things the LTA organise. For the following reasons when compared to the plethora of district and county leagues that exist across the country:

1. Standard set of rules across the whole country

2. Progression from sub-county, to county, to regional to national level

3. Encourages people to play singles instead of doubles

4. Encourages use of British Ratings and Rankings system

5. Online entry and online results, providing an interesting database of nationwide results from recreational to professional level

6. More often encourages players 18-40 years old to play, rather than the 40-60 age range in doubles only competitions

7. Very exciting match format with tiebreak shootouts involved if tied at 3-3

8. A great alternative to playing in tournaments, encourages team work and socialising

wolf · Tennis legend

Born2WinTennis wrote:
I for one think the competition is one of the best things the LTA organise. For the following reasons when compared to the plethora of district and county leagues that exist across the country:

In theory yes, but they don't push clubs to compete meaning a lack of entrants.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Coup Droit wrote:
Mark makes some good points.

But I would just like to say I still support team tennis far more than some guy's trip to the south pole.

Fine, he raised some money for the Gurkhas. But how much did the trip cost? Did that come out of the money raised? (Which is straight out of the Gurkhas pocket). Or was that separate sponsorship? In which case why not just donate that money directly to the Gurkhas? The trip is bound to have cost more than 35k.
If any sponsored trip costs more than the money raised (or even close), just give the money to the cause directly - otherwise it's simply a way to fund (rather deceitfully) your own glory trip jolly.

The cost of trip was only around £10,000 covered by sponsors and raised over £35,000 for Gurkha welfare trust and created a world record which was great PR for the regiment and British army without whom we may not enjoy

the trust supports veterans including those from WW2 I did it in memory of uncle who fought akg the Gurkhas in the Far East in WW2 so for me a great cause

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Sponsoring neil was your quite right an emotional decision but I felt his commitment to the team should not go unrewarded it was a thank , it's difficult to hang your gloves up when you are still only in your 20s and it's your life long dream

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

A1 tennis academy wrote:
Sponsoring neil was your quite right an emotional decision but I felt his commitment to the team should not go unrewarded it was a thank , it's difficult to hang your gloves up when you are still only in your 20s and it's your life long dream

Neil has had a pretty good result today.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

A1 tennis academy wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Mark makes some good points.

But I would just like to say I still support team tennis far more than some guy's trip to the south pole.

Fine, he raised some money for the Gurkhas. But how much did the trip cost? Did that come out of the money raised? (Which is straight out of the Gurkhas pocket). Or was that separate sponsorship? In which case why not just donate that money directly to the Gurkhas? The trip is bound to have cost more than 35k.
If any sponsored trip costs more than the money raised (or even close), just give the money to the cause directly - otherwise it's simply a way to fund (rather deceitfully) your own glory trip jolly.
The cost of trip was only around £10,000 covered by sponsors and raised over £35,000 for Gurkha welfare trust and created a world record which was great PR for the regiment and British army without whom we may not enjoy
the trust supports veterans including those from WW2 I did it in memory of uncle who fought akg the Gurkhas in the Far East in WW2 so for me a great cause

If the cost of the whole trip, everything included, fully costed, was £10k, then THAT is the most impressive part of the whole excursion. I know a bit about Mount Everest costs, and even a trip to the North Pole and am amazed you got it done so cheaply. Assuming, of course, that's right - how much were the flights for everyone? Surely they alone would get you close to your £10k number? (and if people paid their own, that still has to be costed, obviously, because that's still money that is going to the trek, not the cause).

And, as said, the cause is an excellent one. That is not all in question.

And if you seriously raised £45k and gave £35k of that to the Guerkhas, that's a decent deal. (I am slightly sceptical, however, and wouldn't quite believe it until I'd seen the spreadsheet). But well done.

EddietheEagle · County player

Team tennis here is dull and serves no useful purpose. There's no commitment from the Wimbledon club which dominates tennis in this country and the governing body doesn't appear to be doing much to generate interest. So, once again, the reasons or motivation for participation, whether for club or players, is virtually non-existent.

It's a problem Lloyd and the other capos who run British tennis ought to contend with.

Apropos, Wolf's comment about the LTA not pushing clubs. I get what your saying but I don't think it's a matter for pushing or forcing clubs to do something they wouldn't naturally do. The motivation needs to be a positive one. Someone, for example, should ask the LTA why finals aren't held at Wimbledon, the club that effectively counts for 90% plus of public interest in tennis. A1 expressed his view previously that this would act as an incentive to participate.

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

wolf wrote:
Born2WinTennis wrote:
I for one think the competition is one of the best things the LTA organise. For the following reasons when compared to the plethora of district and county leagues that exist across the country:
In theory yes, but they don't push clubs to compete meaning a lack of entrants.

I don't think over 6000 teams can be classed as a "lack of entrants". Obviously there could be a lot more but I think they've done a good job growing the competition thus far. There was a concept initially that it was just for elite players and I think they've struggled to promote that it's really for all standards.

What events do Wimbledon hold on their courts? They do the HSBC Road to Wimbledon but that's the only one I know of. It would be a great idea if they could be convinced to hold some more, it's a great carrot to entry. The LTA reduced the Team Tennis total prize money from 100k to 25k, while 6000 x £18 entry fee is more like £120k income. I think they should spend this money encouraging more teams to enter. As always there's no transparency where this revenue goes.

wolf · Tennis legend

6000 over all age groups? Yes I would say that's not a lot, actually. Although I was referring to the open age group. Some counties I don't think even have any entrants. I know in my county you can get promoted to the regionals with not that great a team.

EddietheEagle · County player

Not only is it a "great carrot to entry" it is also an obvious thing to do. And should have been done. The LTA effectively held sway there with its 50% ownership of the club. So you have to ask yourself why this didn't happen. And there in a nutshell, the story of British tennis begins to reveal itself to where we are today, living vicariously through the adventures of a single player in Melbourne. Or clutching at some other straw.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Just to say I love team tennis for all the reasons Born2Win lists. Especially like the promotion / relegation aspect in the Adult age group. Have seen quite a few national level ties and they are great fun, often featuring strong juniors, retired names and lower ranked professionals. All good for the overall health of tennis in this country (and as Born2Win suggests, not a lot of other singles tennis around for competitive adults).

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

The draw is out A1 men's 2 ( regional tier ) away to Queens is an interesting fixture