Jay Clarke

Prometheus · Social player

Jay Clarke

Prometheus · Social player

I am normally one to read rather than post, but after reading various threads re the Clarkes, I feel I must add my insight. I have spoken with them and the situation mentioned re, past issues with the LTA. As far as they are concerned, there are no issues. Yasmin has moved on, there is a new regime in place and Jay is a tennis player in his own right. To the best of my recollection, they had a meeting at Wimbledon with Martin Weston to discuss Jay, (I believe all boys had this meeting), they were informed that the remit of the LTA has changed and the focus was now on participation, subsequently, no junior would receive funding. They walked away rather disappointed, but accepting of the situation, as it was well documented in the press. An hour later another parent came from a similar meeting with a 3 month plan of international training and trips covered by LTA, (this player in excess of 300+ places lower). Obviously, they were surprised by this, but left the situation alone. More recently, they have again approached the LTA to be told no decisions on funding have been made. It would seem there is flagrant inconsistency with what is being told to parents and coaches in regard to funding and support available. Maybe, I hope, the situation will change with the appointment of the new performance director, although, I very much doubt it.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Thanks, Prometheus.

Wish the Clarkes all the best.

And all other families, and players themselves, trying to achieve success.

Yes, the LTA should make difficult decisions, and yes, maybe a child ranked a lot lower should get funding and one ranked higher not (as rankings are not the be-all-and-end-all) but the lack of transparency is dreadful. And makes for a very distrustful 'them-and-us' environment. (Your story ties in with one I heard, not concerning the Clarkes, and rather second-hand, but very similar).

paulisi · Tennis legend

Just out of interest, my understanding of junior funding was that it was to be stopped for all players aged 17 and 18- based on the last lot of matrix funding that was issued. I've no idea if this is still the case.

My understanding is that younger juniors are still getting funded, the older juniors have to fend for themselves.

The amount of information, mis-information and secrecy within the LTA will cause these issues.

-- Edited by paulisi on Thursday 26th of November 2015 12:59:00 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Focus "now on participation" ? Apparently Jay is struggling to participate in some big end of year junior tournaments, which do seem appropriate for him

Yes, on the face of it, "flagrant inconsistency" and possibly flagrant a few more things besides.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Just out of interest - Jay will climb 12 places when the 97's drop out.

The other interesting stat is that there are only 62 of the 97's girls in the top 500, whereas there are 130 boys in the top 500. Thus the boys are staying longer in juniors.

If the LTA are stopping junior fees at 16, maybe it should be 16 for girls and 17 for boys....

indiana · Tennis legend

Long of course been the case that the girls overall mature quicker / move over to more senior tennis quicker.

But it would be a difficult, if not indeed controversial step to treat boys and girls differently across the board re such as fees/funding on that basis when they are all still individuals.

That said, yes there probably are issues brought about by the overall inequality of junior to senior movement between the sexes that maybe do need acknowledged / addressed more with possibly some intelligent flexibility in offering some additional help for some older junior boys. Tricky one in many ways.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 26th of November 2015 06:26:10 PM

Prometheus · Social player

Wow 13 in the world, there is certainly no arguing with that. In reference to some earlier posts about knee- jerk reactions to rankings, I am 100% agreed, but in Jay's case he has shown quite some promise since the age of 13/14, reaching the number one spot in Europe. Also, the previous Matrix system was based purely on ranking (although we all know how the LTA changes their tune). I agree that it would be difficult to impose different age restrictions when considering funding, but I have it on good authority a junior girl, a year older than Jay, lower ranked, who has recently signed to university was substantially funded over the last year. I do feel sorry for the young man, it seems that no matter what he does, there is always an ulterior motive. I really do wish him the best of luck in all his tournaments and I hope he proves them wrong!

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Totally agree that regardless of political correctness elite female tennis players are beginning to impact junior grand slams at the age of 15, are very competitive in futures tennis at 16 and really ought to be playing on the pro tour in their final year of juniors the boys are a year or two behind and elite boys playing juniors particularly GS events in their final year is a worthwhile exercise.

Very pleased to see Jay do so well this year and looking forward to following him rough the junior slams next year. He has created some fantastic opportunities for himself next year I hope he enjoys them.

paulisi · Tennis legend

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/tennis/6786201/Help-Britains-top-junior-tennis-player-cant-get-LTA-funding.html

I think there is a bit of sensationalising regarding the race front, but it seems the Clarkes have had to highlight their case to the press.

Ratty · County player

I'm not quite getting this. If nobody receives any cash from the LTA ...

Last night, the LTA said: Following a review of junior funding, the LTA no longer provides direct financial support to junior players and instead provides support in kind according to the players age and ability. In Jays case, because he is GBs No 1 junior he has received support in the form of coaching, tournament trips and training camps. The LTA does not and will not condone discrimination of any kind. We have a genuine desire to see all players, whatever their background, succeed to the best of their ability.

... then you can't really plead discrimination when you don't get any cash.

-- Edited by Ratty on Monday 7th of December 2015 06:06:50 AM

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Reading Prometheus' earlier posts, it would seem that the Clarkes do not believe the LTA is applying this policy consistently. Really, the LTA lay themselves open to this sort of charge by being so secretive about funding and support in general. At the very least they should publish an annual report showing who received funding, attended training camps, had paid for trips, coaches etc. As Paulisi says somewhere most other sports publish funding awards in advance and have a mechanism for appeals.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

It's very difficult isn't it to engineer a truely equitable process. At anyone point you can only make decisions on outcomes of assessments, those you invest in will get better at them and continue to secure support. Open competition is an alternative but with such a technical sport those who are supported be it centrally or because they are part of a tennis family develope technical skills and stand a disproportionate chance of securing more support through open competition. Jay hasn't been totally disadvantaged indeed his family setting has given him access to coaching from a very early age. All that said he will get plenty of opportunities to have more success in tennis and I wish him well, his family circumstances have however given him the opportunity to kick down hill so far and long may it continue.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Monday 7th of December 2015 05:09:39 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Whatever all the phraseology, such as from the LTA "focus on participation" and "support in kind", evidently such a ranked player as Jay has felt unable to compete in such top US tournaments as the Grade 1 Eddie Herr and Grade A Orange Bowl

You do feel sorry for top players / athletes in much less developed / financed nations being held back from competing against their peers, but in this instance something is not right.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 8th of December 2015 04:56:16 PM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

But do you think not playing either will impact his transition to senior tennis. I think there are cheaper more challenging opportunities it's a tough road to becoming fiscally viable on the main tour and there will hopefully be times when a longer trip to the U.S. will be money well spent.