The LTA

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: The LTA

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Mike Dickson in the Daily Mail 12th May writes that the academy In Stirling turned out to be yet another colossal waste of money.for the governing body.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

the fact that the school it was attached to closed down just seems beyond belief

I mean, it's only been open for 3 years (the academy). Ensuring quality education has to be absolute priority. Who did the due diligence on that one?

Elegant Point · Satellite level

Whole academy system needs a massive rethink. Certainly doesnt seem to be value for money or guarantee to deliver the next ten of players. How many hours a day does a youngster need to train? Is having such a focus on tennis healthy?

As I have always said, children perform best when they are happy and for many that means living at home with their families for most of the time. Two standout young players, Carlos A was only away during the week and home at weekend and Emma R lives at home.

Also Social Media and the press are too hard on our athletes. Creates a huge amount of added pressure, especially on the young.

The thing I was sad to see stopped was the AASE scheme. My son had a great time on this, it was funded, brought together loads of other players of a similar standard; most were taking A levels full time at school and a few academy players. The majority went to D1 college afterwards and a few of the academy players tried to go pro.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

From Sue Barker's memoir:

"Each year, I'd be invited along with other LTA-funded juniors to a weekend of assessment with the national coach Tony Mottram and his assistant Dan Maskell.

At 13, I thought I'd put on a good showing: I had won my matches, played well.

A few weeks later, however, Mr Roberts [her coach] told me Tony and Dan had concluded that my forehand was unacceptable: 'She plays it with a bent elbow too close to her body.' They insisted that, if I were to remain a funded player in the junior programme, Mr Roberts had to dismantle my forehand so that I hit with a straight, freer arm. This was a devastating blow. My forehand was my primary weapon, a stroke I could rely on to end any rally.

Mr Roberts was incredulous and angry. He just ripped up the LTA report in front of me and said: 'Right, it's just you and me. I have resigned from the Lawn Tennis Association and I am going to fund your career myself.'

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Coup Droit wrote:
From Sue Barker's memoir:

"Each year, I'd be invited along with other LTA-funded juniors to a weekend of assessment with the national coach Tony Mottram and his assistant Dan Maskell.

At 13, I thought I'd put on a good showing: I had won my matches, played well.

A few weeks later, however, Mr Roberts [her coach] told me Tony and Dan had concluded that my forehand was unacceptable: 'She plays it with a bent elbow too close to her body.' They insisted that, if I were to remain a funded player in the junior programme, Mr Roberts had to dismantle my forehand so that I hit with a straight, freer arm. This was a devastating blow. My forehand was my primary weapon, a stroke I could rely on to end any rally.

Mr Roberts was incredulous and angry. He just ripped up the LTA report in front of me and said: 'Right, it's just you and me. I have resigned from the Lawn Tennis Association and I am going to fund your career myself.'

This story about the LTA coaching and Sue Barker reflects the thinking in 1969. The two names mentioned Tony Mottram and Dan Maskell were famous in British tennis at the time.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

GAMEOVER wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
From Sue Barker's memoir:

"Each year, I'd be invited along with other LTA-funded juniors to a weekend of assessment with the national coach Tony Mottram and his assistant Dan Maskell.

At 13, I thought I'd put on a good showing: I had won my matches, played well.

A few weeks later, however, Mr Roberts [her coach] told me Tony and Dan had concluded that my forehand was unacceptable: 'She plays it with a bent elbow too close to her body.' They insisted that, if I were to remain a funded player in the junior programme, Mr Roberts had to dismantle my forehand so that I hit with a straight, freer arm. This was a devastating blow. My forehand was my primary weapon, a stroke I could rely on to end any rally.

Mr Roberts was incredulous and angry. He just ripped up the LTA report in front of me and said: 'Right, it's just you and me. I have resigned from the Lawn Tennis Association and I am going to fund your career myself.'
This story about the LTA coaching and Sue Barker reflects the thinking in 1969. The two names mentioned Tony Mottram and Dan Maskell were famous in British tennis at the time.

Dan Maskell was the queens club pro before becoming a bbc commentator, maybe the most famous of all. Tony was of course dad to Buster and Linda. Least said about Buster the better. Once a Member of the National Front and stood to be an MP for them. Was ranked top 20 in the world at one time.

Elegant Point · Satellite level

Prime Video and the LTA have launched a multi-year programme to inspire girls to pick up a racket and play tennis. The Prime Video LTA Youth Girls programme will train coaches across Great Britain to deliver lessons and guidance specifically designed for girls.

The programme will focus on creating an environment that motivates girls and young women to play and stay in tennis. LTA research identified that girls want to play with friends in a fun and pressure-free setting, with relatable coaches who can build confidence and drive enjoyment. The initiative fulfils Prime Videos promise to reinvest the funds from sharing the broadcast of the 2021 US Open Final with Channel 4, into British womens tennis.

Emma Raducanu, whose historic victory at the US Open last year was the catalyst for the programme, commented: Im extremely pleased to see the funds generated from the US Open Final go towards this new programme, which is a step in the right direction to bring more young girls into the sport and will continue to support a bright future for womens tennis in this country. As an ambassador of LTA Youth, its great to see a complimentary program take shape and hopefully bring some more success.

Alex Green, MD Prime Video Sport Europe said, It was important for us that Emmas story and her historic win would have a lasting legacy in the sport. The LTA have been super partners in helping us to understand the hurdles facing the next generation of female British tennis players and using our seven-figure investment to develop Prime Video LTA Youth Girls. The programme will bring thousands of new female players into the sport, hopefully to follow in the footsteps of Emma and reach the pinnacle of the game.

www.lta.org.uk/news/prime-video-and-the-lta-launch-a-new-girls-only-programme-to-inspire-the-next-generation-of-female-british-tennis-players/

Strongbow · All-time great

Here we go round the Mulberry bush wink

Lambda · Challenger level

The LTA have published updated lists for those on their programmes. For 2023, Sonay Kartal and Felix Gill move on to the Pro Scholarship Programme, while Katie Boulter, Fran Jones, Jack Draper and Aidan Mchugh are no longer on the PSP. On the Men's and Womens Programme, new for 2023 are Eva Shaw and Oli Bonding. As well as Felix Gill, also leaving the MWP is Joe Mazingham.

Pro Scholarship Programme
Jodie Burrage
Harriet Dart
Sonay Kartal
Paul Jubb
Felix Gill

Men's and Womens Programme
Amarni Banks
Hannah Klugman
Jasmine Conway
Isabelle Lacy
Alastair Gray
Oli Bonding
Max Carrier
Ben Gusic-Wan
Eva Shaw

-- Edited by Lambda on Monday 6th of March 2023 11:42:20 PM

Shhh · Challenger level

Exactly what is the Pro Scholarship Programme?

Lambda · Challenger level

Shhh wrote:

Exactly what is the Pro Scholarship Programme?

The PSP is for 16 to 24 year olds (with career prize money of less than £1m) with the best chance of making the top 100 or in doubles, the top 30. It provides support including a grant of at least £45,000, access to LTA coaches, strength and conditioning programmes and science and medical support. It will depend on the individual player contracts as to exactly what they get and are required to do.

https://www.lta.org.uk/compete/performance/player-pathway/pro-scholarship-programme/

PSP 2023 Selection criteria

SuperT · Futures level

Lambda wrote:
Shhh wrote:

Exactly what is the Pro Scholarship Programme?

The PSP is for 16 to 24 year olds (with career prize money of less than £1m) with the best chance of making the top 100 or in doubles, the top 30. It provides support including a grant of at least £45,000, access to LTA coaches, strength and conditioning programmes and science and medical support. It will depend on the individual player contracts as to exactly what they get and are required to do.

https://www.lta.org.uk/compete/performance/player-pathway/pro-scholarship-programme/

PSP 2023 Selection criteria

So how come Harriet is still on the PSP when she's 26?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Lambda wrote:
Shhh wrote:

Exactly what is the Pro Scholarship Programme?

The PSP is for 16 to 24 year olds (with career prize money of less than £1m) with the best chance of making the top 100 or in doubles, the top 30. It provides support including a grant of at least £45,000, access to LTA coaches, strength and conditioning programmes and science and medical support. It will depend on the individual player contracts as to exactly what they get and are required to do.

https://www.lta.org.uk/compete/performance/player-pathway/pro-scholarship-programme/

PSP 2023 Selection criteria

Thanks for the info Lambda - and how does the Mens and womens programme work below that - it seemed strange Ali Gray was on that, the rest all seem to be juniors, whereas he would seem more aligned to the pro scholarship cohort??

Lambda · Challenger level

SuperT wrote:

Lambda wrote:
Shhh wrote:

Exactly what is the Pro Scholarship Programme?

The PSP is for 16 to 24 year olds (with career prize money of less than £1m) with the best chance of making the top 100 or in doubles, the top 30. It provides support including a grant of at least £45,000, access to LTA coaches, strength and conditioning programmes and science and medical support. It will depend on the individual player contracts as to exactly what they get and are required to do.

https://www.lta.org.uk/compete/performance/player-pathway/pro-scholarship-programme/

PSP 2023 Selection criteria
So how come Harriet is still on the PSP when she's 26?

It will depend on when her contract started, how long it was for and when the review or renewal point is. The LTA also give themselves discretion on awarding 1 year rolling extensions to players that have met the Programme targets or had the maximum 5 years for the programme.