-ITF to assist with equipment
The Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) in association with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) will from today start a series of workshops aimed at carrying the game into the school system.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport National Schools’ Tennis Initiative Coordinator and Coach, Shelly Daly-Ramdhyan said that the ITF will hand over equipment to the local arm which in turn will distribute the equipment to schools countrywide.
This resurrected initiative, according to Daly-Ramdhyan, which began in 2007 will see the ITF handing over balls, nets, racquets, strings, stringing machines and paddles to the GLTA.
Daly-Ramdyhan added that the supplies for the 2008/9 period were already in the country and would be distributed soon.
According to Daly-Ramdhyan, the aim of the ITF mini-tennis programme is to have tennis played at an early age.
This particular programme will see players sent to a Performance Training Initia-tive Programme which is held in the National Park on Saturdays.
From this beginners’ programme, the Junior Tennis Initiative will come on stream and players will then be elevated.
Hopefully by the end of the programme they will be playing at the national level.
This programme which begins in the National Park today, caters for school coaches (physical education teachers).
It is hoped that the teachers will then pass on what they learnt to the children.
Daly-Ramdhyan said at present she was not happy with the number of schools participating.
Initially some 33 schools had registered but that figure has been reduced to 16.
Meanwhile, schools will schedule periods during the physical education sessions when tennis can be played. The GLTA will send officers on a routine basis to make checks on the schools which are participating.
Daly-Ramdyhan said the success of the programme since it has been re-started has forced the GLTA to look towards expanding the programme outside of Georgetown.
The GLTA has decided to target Linden because Berbice has the services of Carol Humphrey as an affiliate coach who will also be conducting a similar session.
Sponsorship, however, continues to be one of a major hurdle for the GLTA as according to Daly, the ITF only assists with equipment and not money apart from the subsidy to pay the national coordinator.
Schools participating in today’s coaching programme are: Comenius Primary School, East La Penitence, Enterprise Primary School, F. E. Pollard, J. E. Burnham Primary School, Ketley Primary School, North Georgetown Primary School, Rama Krishna Primary School, Sacred Heart Primary School, Smith Memorial Primary School, St. Agnes Primary School, St. Ambrose Primary School, St. Andrew’s Primary School, St. Angela’s Primary School, St. Gabriel’s Primary School, St. Margaret’s Primary School, St. Pius Primary School, St Stephen’s Primary School, Thomas Moore Primary School, Tucville Government School, West Ruimveldt Primary School and Winfer Gardens Primary School along with Mae’s Under 12, Marian Academy and School of the Nations.
