Inspiring tennis – on the road

More than 800 children in the Huntingdon area have been ‘giving tennis a go’ after Huntingdon Tennis Club took to the road. A grant from Cambridgeshire Tennis meant the Club could take a roadshow around local schools, aiming to inspire as many children as possible to get started with the sport. Fun was had by all – including the teachers – at the 30-minute tennis taster sessions, which included Houghton, Offord Primary, Stukeley Meadows and Godmanchester Academy.

All the children were then invited to an Open Day and a free taster session at one of Huntingdon Tennis Club’s afterschool and Saturday coaching groups, to inspire them to copy their tennis heroes and start playing regularly. 18 went along even before term was over and many more have been coming to the summer camps, where they have been making new friends and learning new skills.

Jasmine Smith, Head Coach at the Club, is thrilled by the impact the schools programme has had. “So many new families have come to the club to enquire about lessons since their child remembered us coming into their school last term” she said. “It’s really great that these young people have now been introduced to the sport and gained skills that will last them a lifetime. Thanks again to Cambridgeshire Tennis for their support making it happen.”