Helen Parish blog

Ratty · County player

RE: Helen Parish blog

SMC1809 · All-time great

If we look at Tara, 9/30 had a lower ranking than Tara at age 18. If we consider British players, then 50% of those who reached the top 100 had a lower ranking than both Tara and Lisa. Is this a small proportion?

indiana · Tennis legend

An issue with funding seems to be that it as if they are not really interested in these that they now judge are possibly not going to be say top 100 players and very likely not top 50 players.

But prefer to put much more funding towards players of 14yo and younger, from whom the great majority won't make it to be as good as some older players that are not getting funding, but maybe just maybe there will come out one or two shining stars.

It's as if we're just looking to get top top players out of our funding and you maybe / maybe not top 100 players, depending on how you progress, sorry.

It's a strategy I guess, but an arguable one.

I do also agree with Steven that there does seem no accounting of individual circumstances except to deny funding, otherwise it seems formula driven. If so is that more self protection, not to be seen to show favouritism rather than take account of all circumstances that they should be aware of ?

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 3rd of January 2011 01:48:59 PM

steven · Tennis legend

Ratty wrote:

steven wrote:

since to me your data appear to strongly support the case for Tara and Lisa.
I don't think so.

The data cited shows that a substantial number of current top 100 players were surprisingly low-ranked when they were 18.

But surely the relevant statistic is the subtly, but crucially, different:

In the past, what proportion of people at a similar level to (say) Lisa Whybourn (ranked 310 at 19y 8m) or Tara Moore (ranked 350 at 18y 5m) later went on to crack the top 100?

I suspect that the answer is a very small proportion. Which makes funding decisions very difficult - ie "Do we fund the promising 14 year old, or the (statistically) unlikely to succeed 19 year old?"

You can turn it around that way, fair enough, and indeed we're already seeing how differently you can interpret the statistics depending on what angle you come at them from, which may partly explain why it's so tough to work out how the LTA use them.

However, you could then turn it around again and argue that even if the proportion of players at a similar level to Lisa or Tara who went on to crack the top 100 is very small, I'm sure the proportion of players statistically 'on track' at 14 (or younger) who finally make it is a heck of a lot smaller, and we then get back to what appeared to be one of Helen's main points, which is that the funding is too skewed towards those in the younger age groups.

indiana · Tennis legend

steven wrote:

However, you could then turn it around again and argue that even if the proportion of players at a similar level to Lisa or Tara who went on to crack the top 100 is very small, I'm sure the proportion of players statistically 'on track' at 14 (or younger) who finally make it is a heck of a lot smaller, and we then get back to what appeared to be one of Helen's main points, which is that the funding is too skewed towards those in the younger age groups.

I think that is almost certainly the case. As I indicated above, it is basically funding many younger players to search out a few "shining stars" plus yes hopefully some "just" top 100 players as against funding towards certain older players with more liklelihood of attaining the top 100.

So, in a way it depends on what your ultimate aim is. If they appreciate what they are doing and that is deliberate then it is a policy that can probably be argued, but I personally think we are ceasing funding too soon on possible top 100ers.

Surely some sort of base at that level and we only have 2 top singles players at the moment matters as much as the more blanket lower age funding when such a large proportion of these will just never be close to making it.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 3rd of January 2011 10:45:24 PM

Osomec · Junior player

Increasing the number of 10K and 15K tournaments is the last thing that should be done. Players can't make a living playing those events without some sort of subsidy, but the fact that they exist encourages players to cling on to the idea of a professional career. If there were more of them, even more players would struggle along in often desperate financial circumstances. That is cruelty, not kindness. I would rather see the number of tournaments reduced, but the minimum prize fund raised to at least 25K. A professional sport should be lucrative enough for people to make a living - and it follows that it shouldn't have more people in it than it can fund at a reasonable level.

-- Edited by Osomec on Tuesday 4th of January 2011 02:08:50 AM

steven · Tennis legend

Helen's latest blog post covers the issue of tennis v education - as usual, she makes a lot of sense ... and turns out to have been a very good student. Hands up if you're surprised ... no, I thought not. wink

http://bit.ly/fCvfEI

-- Edited by steven on Tuesday 4th of January 2011 02:44:47 PM

steven · Tennis legend

Another post, which explains why the Gausdal tournaments tend to be weaker than you'd expect for ITF/Futures events held in Europe and why players don't often go back there even if they've picked up a few points there the previous year.

http://bit.ly/gquwZc

Some good comedy moments as well

steven · Tennis legend

I've been reading the latest instlaments but forgetting to post the links, though I'm sure that has stopped anyone finding the posts

People in the gym reacting oddly to someone exercising in a sling - http://bit.ly/i9Xydo

Another opinion piece, this time on mini-tennis (as usual, she makes a lot of sense) - http://bit.ly/f8dleR

'No pain, no gain' - http://bit.ly/hTYBh4

Looking back at another tournament, the one where she secured her WTA ranking - http://bit.ly/gOuffq

Unfortunately, Helen's not having a good week:

"Ow ow ow ow owwww!! My arm has never been abused so much...what an absolute mess!"

and, far more excruciating:

"The fact that I picked him [Nalby] makes it doubly worse :P At least I didn't pick Davydenko to make semis! Oh no, wait..."

disbelief

steven · Tennis legend

And now BOTB has made it into Helen's blog with a classic rant which all of us who play it will identify with - http://wp.me/p1fYzB-44 - the quote at the top is spot on too biggrin

indiana · Tennis legend

steven wrote:

And now BOTB has made it into Helen's blog with a classic rant which all of us who play it will identify with - http://wp.me/p1fYzB-44 - the quote at the top is spot on too

Hi ha, yes she's definitely got into it.

"I was even rooting for the player who I wouldnt normally want to win. Its just not right!" smile

steven · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:

steven wrote:

And now BOTB has made it into Helen's blog with a classic rant which all of us who play it will identify with - http://wp.me/p1fYzB-44 - the quote at the top is spot on too

Hi ha, yes she's definitely got into it.

"I was even rooting for the player who I wouldnt normally want to win. Its just not right!"

Yes, we've all done that haven't we. Except for those who only make heart over head picks, otherwise known as serial gorilla botherers

steven · Tennis legend

Helen's latest - http://bit.ly/gS5sRW - "They tried to make me go to Rehab, and I saidOh, ok then."

A serious subject, but still made into a lot of fun.

steven · Tennis legend

I've been very remiss at posting these links recently, though I imagine those of you who read Helen's blogs avidly like me have found them through subscribing or via twitter. The last few are:

15 Feb - Scheduling: http://bit.ly/eC9bMH - answers a lot of questions if for those like me who are not directly involved and to whom this is a bit of a 'black art'!

25 Feb - Follow up - moving on: http://bit.ly/hH1pEu

10 Mar - No such thing as bad press? http://bit.ly/eZXRWR

Today - Tennis parents - not always pushing in the right direction: http://j.mp/i5C6yv

Ratty · County player

A synopsis of the blog on Tennis Parents:

Some tennis parents are loony.
Some are OK.
OK is better than loony.

Wow, controversial ....

smile