LTA Team Aegon - "The Young Ones"

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

RE: LTA Team Aegon - "The Young Ones"

RJA · Hall of fame

A1 tennis academy wrote:
If does grate a little when A1 have put in so much time & funding and MW has out performed most of their aegon players - without a coach so far in 2013 and when I ask repeatedly for access to an Lta coach or funding for a coach it falls on "death ears " . Sadly I think the mindset is they will be admitting they got it wrong in the past and theres no provision for turning back or giving for 2nd chances .I think the truth is its not just a matter of funding the right players it's also a matter of good player management and building a team spirit that fully exploits the Aegon players full potential .
The good news is that GB tennis is moving forward in the right direction .

I fail to see how the LTA got it wrong with regard to Marcus. If you look at where he was at the end of last year there was no serious case for the LTA giving him any significant support this year. Now that he has improved his results, shown far greater dedication and started to sort out his fitness there is a very strong case for him getting much more support next year.

indiana · Tennis legend

Very interesting.

Having read and indeed participated in previous discussions re the lack of challengers, I wasn't aware of the LTA ever saying that once there were all these players who were competitive / comfortable at futures level they would reintroduce more 15Ks and challengers.

When was this said ?

RJA · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:
Very interesting.

Having read and indeed participated in previous discussions re the lack of challengers, I wasn't aware of the LTA ever saying that once there were all these players who were competitive / comfortable at futures level they would reintroduce more 15Ks and challengers.

When was this said ?

I don't think it has ever been said officially but I think a couple of people have said they have been told such things in conversations with various people from the LTA.

indiana · Tennis legend

Thanks, Bob ( and RJA ), I did kind of remember your Beechy conversation, but nothing else officially or unofficially from the LTA, but it does appear he was maybe not just totally speculating.

Don't think you meant "dearth" LOL

paulisi · Tennis legend

I think it was Steven who had a long discussion with an LTA official regarding this as well as Bob, but i've not seen anything official

The one thing the LTA do need to do is come out and tell us officially what their plans are. Maybe the new CEO will do this in January.

korriban · Challenger level

indiana wrote:
Thanks, Bob ( and RJA ), I did kind of remember your Beechy conversation, but nothing else officially or unofficially from the LTA, but it does appear he was maybe not just totally speculating.

Don't think you meant "dearth" LOL

Indy. I was referring to Bob's conversation with Beechy which I definitely remembered, but I think there was also another piece of feedback somewhere down the line from another LTA person in conversation with one of us which suggested that GB Challengers were likely to see a comeback once we had a higher number of players who were likely to make an impact in them - it may have been Phil, but I honestly can't place it now. Sorry!

It certainly would be consistent with the change in emphasis in tournament bonus payments towards Challengers.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
A1 tennis academy wrote:
If does grate a little when A1 have put in so much time & funding and MW has out performed most of their aegon players - without a coach so far in 2013 and when I ask repeatedly for access to an Lta coach or funding for a coach it falls on "death ears " . Sadly I think the mindset is they will be admitting they got it wrong in the past and theres no provision for turning back or giving for 2nd chances .I think the truth is its not just a matter of funding the right players it's also a matter of good player management and building a team spirit that fully exploits the Aegon players full potential .
The good news is that GB tennis is moving forward in the right direction .
I fail to see how the LTA got it wrong with regard to Marcus. If you look at where he was at the end of last year there was no serious case for the LTA giving him any significant support this year. Now that he has improved his results, shown far greater dedication and started to sort out his fitness there is a very strong case for him getting much more support next year.

This is an interesting case . . . It is obvious that Marcus was funded and supported by the LTA as a junior, taken to Junior Grand Slams, the works, and that he blotted his copybook (as youngsters do) and got dropped.

I also completely agree that youngsters should be given a second (third?) chance.

I do not know whether Marcus (or Dan C ?) will qualify for help next year under the Matrix thingy which people have said is too severe for slightly older players (I thoroughly support helping slightly older players, mathematically it's obvious).

However, what is it that you're looking for, A1 ? Funding to travel/employ a team ? (Yes, everybody would like that). Or NTC/LTA coaching ? Because you've mentioned several times that Marcus would do so much better with a coach and should get at least a couple of hours coaching per week etc. etc.

But I'm not sure this will help.

For players with a strong tennis base and who are now a certain age, a tennis coach is very much a personal relationship thing. A couple of hours per week is what you give a talented 16 year-old who needs help with his second serve. A guy of 23 with a LOT of tennis lessons behind him needs a coach who will bring the best out in him, motivate him, keep him focused etc.etc. Even the technique and tactical side of coaching need a strong understanding of that player's character, strengths, weaknesses etc. etc.

Some guy from the NTC who travels with him for a couple of weeks or gives a few hours coaching will not necessarily be an added benefit to Marcus, and I'm not knocking the coaches there.

And this need for a good personal fit is even more true when the tennis player in question is 'a bit different' i.e. not your bog standard generic sort.

It seems to me that actually you, Gary, in many ways, have acted the role of his coach. And very successfully too. And if you're both a bit 'qwerky' then great - you match up well !

I would get a very good (likeable) fitness trainer to do a block with Marcus, as you mentioned before, to help stave off injury and get him on the right tracks. And then see what the LTA offers.

But, even if it doesn't come through, I think there's every chance that you'll do very well on your own.

indiana · Tennis legend

I always thought that Roger Draper was a bit vague about where the goalposts were, so that he could shift them.

Yes, it would be good if the new CEO could just be much more straightforward and upfront.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Thanks, Bob ( and RJA ), I did kind of remember your Beechy conversation, but nothing else officially or unofficially from the LTA, but it does appear he was maybe not just totally speculating.

Don't think you meant "dearth" LOL

disbelief That's what comes of trying to post at Stupid o'clock in the morning here.

Hangs head in shame.

paulisi · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
I always thought that Roger Draper was a bit vague about where the goalposts were, so that he could shift them.

Yes, it would be good if the new CEO could just be much more straightforward and upfront.

Quite agree. There needs to be more focus on the womens game and developing this as not too many girls travel and very few are having a go and of course some of more experience players are close to retirement or are becoming doubles specialist - Elena, Mel, Nik

philwrig · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
This is a snippet from one of my Murcia reports where I spoke to Beechy about the current situation earlier in the year. It certainly seems to back up the theory.

I used the opportunity to ask him his opinion on the lack of Challenger events in the UK. He was quite philosophical and defended the situation because of the dearth of GB players in the 100 - 300 ranking range. He didn't see the point in organising challenger events so that overseas players can come over and rack up their points tally. He was also confident that once we got to the stage of more players developing to that level, the number of Challengers would increase.
I think Phil also had conversation with people just before Wimbledon that seemed to suggest a deliberate strategy of getting players up the rankings with a dearth of 10k futures and then reintroducing Challengers when we had the players to compete.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Monday 7th of October 2013 10:18:39 AM

I did indeed. Leon was certainly at the fore front of that conversation.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

A1 tennis academy wrote:
That's an interesting change when will that be implemented ?

"Bonus payments for the amounts below will be valid for tournaments dating from 30 September 2013 and will continue through to 22 September 2014. "

The full details are on the Tournament Bonus Scheme page of the LTA website which you can reach by putting "LTA tournament bonus scheme" into google. I would provide a link but activeboard forum software isn't particularly link friendly.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Interesting reading. I'm a little surprise at the lack of bonuses for doubles.

Also see Team Aegon meetings are due soon for next year or have already happened:

The Team Aegon selection policy will apply to the selection meetings on the following dates:
For players born in 1997 or younger - 13th September 2013 (8am-12pm) at the National Tennis Centre
For all other players - 15 November 2013 (8am-12pm) at the National Tennis Centre

These meetings will be for selections for LTA Player Funding Contracts for 2014.
- See more at: www.lta.org.uk/players-parents/Performance-players/Player-funding/Team-AEGON/

I'm still not convinced that the high earners should have full funding - not financial incentives or travel assistance, just access to HPC's and technical support.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Not really sure where to put this but this is an article that MUST be read:

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tennis-champ-10-could-quit-sport-over-lta-court-fees-8841064.html

LTA/British tennis - take note - how can anyone pay GBP 125 per week for a 10 year old's tennis ? And then to make it GBP 197 a week ? (With or without the 20 pound grant).

Well done to the friend who chips in 60 pounds a week - but the whole set-up is mind-blowing !!!!

At the risk of repeating myself - LTA, my sons in France had full membership of their club for about 150 GBP (per person) for the whole YEAR - this gave them each three hours lessons a week PLUS the right to use the 6 courts (indoor and outdoors) any time they wanted. No adult priority. No extra charge for indoor courts.
And for children whose parents were on benefits, this cost was about halved.

And even if MJ gets the free court or free funding, what about all the other kids ?

It is completely unacceptable.