Michael Downey - The four year plan for British Tennis

Oakland2002 · All-time great

RE: Michael Downey - The four year plan for British Tennis

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Otto wrote:
The Optimist wrote:
The LTA has set out it's framework for performance centres. They are reverting to the format of Development Centres for 12&under and a few Performance Centres for older players. This was very unpopular before as coaches of the younger age group lost heart as every player they brought on was taken from them at the start of a really interesting phase.
However, one of the criteria for the centres for older players is that they are within 15 minutes of a school and have links with that school or have proper educational facilities on site. Like this bit.
Where did this info come from?

From the info pack which accompanied the application forms HPCs have had to complete to be part of the scheme from next autumn. It says that the majority of centres from October will only receive funding for U12s, and only a few select centres will receive some additional funding to train the very elite over 12s.

Otto · Social player

The Optimist wrote:
Otto wrote:
The Optimist wrote:
The LTA has set out it's framework for performance centres. They are reverting to the format of Development Centres for 12&under and a few Performance Centres for older players. This was very unpopular before as coaches of the younger age group lost heart as every player they brought on was taken from them at the start of a really interesting phase.
However, one of the criteria for the centres for older players is that they are within 15 minutes of a school and have links with that school or have proper educational facilities on site. Like this bit.
Where did this info come from?
From the info pack which accompanied the application forms HPCs have had to complete to be part of the scheme from next autumn. It says that the majority of centres from October will only receive funding for U12s, and only a few select centres will receive some additional funding to train the very elite over 12s.

That's interesting, thanks.

baxi2 · Lower Club Player

What a fiasco !!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/11533562/Lawn-Tennis-Association-ready-to-part-company-with-Bob-Brett-after-series-of-rows.html

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Thanks, baxi - and as you say . . . .

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

In many ways they've used Bob B's skills where they best fit - on the court. As the article points out, he doesn't have a huge background in admin so making him Head of Performance Tennis and opposed to Head of Coaching was a bit of a gamble. I hope he stays in a coaching role, I think he will inject some much needed intensity into elite coaching in this country.

Thing is, has he had arguments because he is too abrasive a personality for the role and because he lacks admin experience, or because those already at the LTA are busy protecting their territories and existing ways of working and don't like being sidelined or having to change?

Otto · Social player

baxi2 wrote:
What a fiasco !!!!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/11533562/Lawn-Tennis-Association-ready-to-part-company-with-Bob-Brett-after-series-of-rows.html

I've heard a little of this on the grapevine, but don't really know what's going on. In fact it is fast becoming apparent that the 'new LTA' are not keen on communicating their new policies in performance or explaining why!

I have got to know Bob Brett a little recently as we have done a few sessions together with one of my players. He is a very nice guy who seemed keen to help. However I'm not sure why he is qualified to structure a national programme.

This may be controversial on here but I'm not a big fan of player funding, But, and this is a big BUT, if you choose to cut player funding then you must increase opportunity. Instead they have slashed the money tournaments from 38 to 13, cut NCL by 75% and now have only 10 futures for men and 6 for women without any explanation as to why this is a good idea?!?

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Otto wrote:
baxi2 wrote:
What a fiasco !!!!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/11533562/Lawn-Tennis-Association-ready-to-part-company-with-Bob-Brett-after-series-of-rows.html

This may be controversial on here but I'm not a big fan of player funding, But, and this is a big BUT, if you choose to cut player funding then you must increase opportunity. Instead they have slashed the money tournaments from 38 to 13, cut NCL by 75% and now have only 10 futures for men and 6 for women without any explanation as to why this is a good idea?!?

Am not a great fan of player funding either. IMO it has a place to help players,transitioning into seniors but should be carefully monitored and targeted. For example, Miss Askew has a very consistent and successful record in British Tours and has picked up her WTA ranking largely through 25ks in this country. As I understand it, she does not have access to funds to travel. If there was a proper programme of 10k events in this country she would have the opportunity to show what she could do and get her ranking well-established. Alternatively, funding to help her travel to a batch of 10ks abroad would have the same effect. In either case, having had a chance to show her worth the LTA could then decide whether she was worthy of more support or not. This is just an example plucked out of thin air but it's the sort of targeting I have in mind.

Am very against junior funding. It has rarely yielded long term results (Katies B, D, and S possibly excepted) and has simply removed the best players from the GB system denying others the opportunity of playing against them and thus improving their own games. All it has done is provide a series of feelgood headlines for the LTA as these kids are flown all over the world chasing junior points. If the British Tour was at full strength, Team Tennis still developing and there were sufficient low grade professional ITFs on home soil, juniors would not need to be funded for a worldwide competition schedule.

-- Edited by The Optimist on Tuesday 14th of April 2015 10:00:19 AM

paulisi · Tennis legend

I very much agree with you on the funding. What we need is lots of players at different ranking levels to provide a benchmark ranking and competition and to do that they have to have play more competitions in the UK. Tom F and Beth are the two prime examples of not being able to travel regularly and have suffered rankings wise.

I remember speaking to Adam TB at Wrexham and he plays part time, but said to me that if he played more regularly his game would come on leaps and bounds. I think that week he did well as he got plenty of matches as he had to come through qualifying which helped.

Either The LTA set up a travel fund which players have to apply (Targeted at junior to senior transition, players coming back from US college or players returning from long term injury) or they put on more events within the UK.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I completely agree re funding.

However, as said, I do not think that Tom F is someone who financially has not been able to travel regularly, certainly not a prime example, there are other factors as well.

I'm not even completely sure about Beth - some people don't like traveling very much. And, as has been pointed out, going to Glasgow from the south, and staying in a hotel etc. is no cheaper than many of the European/north african resorts.

Equally, we used to have far more ITF events - and one can't really argue that it was hugely successful - so just putting on the events wasn't really the answer. You have to have some sympathy with the powers that be (although the lack of communication is ridiculous, Otto, 100%, how can you get a team pulling for the same end result if you go about it that way?).

However, it doesn't detract from the point that direct player funding is not really the way to go. There needs to be an overall national structure that gives tennis players the chance to thrive.

NB Adam is now playing French league tennis, which may give him some needed funds, and a different aspect on things.

indiana · Tennis legend

Extremely interesting re Bob Brett.

There do certainly appear to have been mistakes made here, particularly in respect of Brett's role and / or the position he was hired for, so clearly it is a setback if things have not worked out.

From the outside though, I don't really agree that it is a fiasco. I think he was hired with the best intentions, and if things aren't going well, best to acknowledge this and make changes. There have over the months been many comments and questions raised in tis forum and as the Telegraph says "it does at least suggest that Downey is prepared to acknowledge his mistakes".

wimdledont · Challenger level

Bob Brett is clearly an imbecile, like his boss, Mr Downey.

On the women's side, ignoring the 3 players (Watson, Konta, Broady) who can make GS qualifying, our top player is currently Katy Dunne. Her income in the first quarter + a bit of 2015 is...

www.wtatennis.com/players/player/18929/title/katy-dunne

US2,052 in prize money. Approximately £1,500. She is on course to make approximately UK£6,000 this year from ITF 25k prize money.

Her travel and accomodation and restringing, etc, budget should be around £30,000.

Brett and Downey are both on record as thinking that the British players would do better if they have less support.

They are clearly a pair of imbeciles. If one of them (Downey) has noticed that the other (Brett), is an imbecile, and will now sack him; well, we're half way there...

new to it · Social player

The plan seems to be let the wealthy do it themselves and the LTA will take the credit. Katy is not from a wealthy family. Lets hope she finds a sponsor.

baxi2 · Lower Club Player

The LTA claim the credit for all our top players - Murray,Watson,Robson and continue to fund them to keep them "onside" ! Surely it should be these guys that are outspoken of our flailing system but they are kept quiet with the cash !

How incredible is it that these players earning millions still get funded ie coaches or fitness trainers paid for and yet the LTA cut funding for the players on the lower tier who desperately need money for coaching/travel etc !!!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

baxi2 wrote:
The LTA claim the credit for all our top players - Murray,Watson,Robson and continue to fund them to keep them "onside" ! Surely it should be these guys that are outspoken of our flailing system but they are kept quiet with the cash !
How incredible is it that these players earning millions still get funded ie coaches or fitness trainers paid for and yet the LTA cut funding for the players on the lower tier who desperately need money for coaching/travel etc !!!

I think you've got a good point. I also think it very much applies to the previous generation - Anne K, Jamie Baker etc. - people who benefited tremendously from the old system and wouldn't have got a look in in the new system (and are now part of the very system itself).

However, the system may well change. So this new 'tough love' may be a short-lived policy. .... or not.....

As to the current players, I don't believe that Andy gets any direct funding (as indeed he shouldn't).

For the girls, it seems very strange to me that the LTA have nixed the very thing that was good for them and that was not expensive (as in it's more expensive having it sit there doing nothing) and that's the NTC.

Most of the men who trained there have affiliations with other clubs, and may well (possibly) be better off at those clubs, with a good club structure. (Kyle always seemed rather to plough his own furrow so will probably be fine)

But, from what I saw and understood, Heather and Laura and Joko very much used the NTC as their base - they don't have any other base or club. I know that obviosuly they still can use the facilities but that's completely different from using it as a club or base. Being on tour is a pretty lonely thing - you need to be able to come back and do training blocks with friends, hitting partners, coaches, youngsters, in short, a proper group atmosphere of friendly faces. So now the girls are pretty much forced to move their base overseas, it seems to me, and so the younger/other GB players lose the benefits of being with the leading players and you lose all the knock-on positive effects. The NTC has to be sorted out and made to pay its way.

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Wednesday 15th of April 2015 07:54:10 AM