Summer coaching for the juniors at Rye Tennis Club culminated in a week-long 'camp' in the week before the August Bank Holiday.
Under the experienced coaching skills of senior coach Frances Candy, assisted by Zoe Richmond-Watson, seven youngsters enjoyed games designed to promote racket, ball and eye co-ordination as well as developing their reactions.
Everyone made such good progress that at the end of the week the children were divided into two teams - Red and Blue - for a team challenge. games were played with an enthusiasm that made for a tight contest with, in the end, the Blue Team just beating the Reds.
The tennis camps are always popular and the next one is scheduled for the half-term break, five days, 1:30pm to 4pm each day from October 28 to November 1. If that is too long to wait, there is also weekly term-time coaching starting September 4 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
In addition to all this, the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association - the tennis governing body in the UK) has introduced a new national coaching scheme for juniors, operated by clubs around the country, including Rye, where the course takes place each week on Thursdays commencing September 5 and runs for 6 weeks, finishing on October 10.
Aimed at 4-11 year-olds, no previous knowledge or equipment is required and each child will receive a racket and ball set and a personalised T-shirt as part of the course. The program has been trialled in other clubs and has been voted a huge success by both those taking part and their parents.
Further information on all the camps and coaching is available from Frances Candy, email, fjcandy@talktalk.net.
