Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#1
Watching our Andy Murray win again was a great sight, but there is this debate going on in the background as to how do we get more British players even through the earlier rounds!!
The govorning body of tennis, the Lawn tennis Assoc. has put a lot of dosh into the sport, and Andy has come up trumps, but it is so rare.
Talking to a chap yesterday on the bus(yep bern we chat on buses on all types of subjects lol)
he told me when he was working out in Australia he noticed children are taught in a different way.
If a child show a real interest at an early age they get a coach that takes them on an individual basis until they lose interest or become stars.
I know in the 70's when i ran a youth club we played French /Italian/German sides and all those countrires were well organised and at a high level.,
Borriussia Muchangladback take kids on at 8 at football at the club and develope them at a very early age.
Of course there is a down side to all this
1; Thery don't get sany real childhood
2; They probably never make the big time.
We do appear second best at many sports, thats not to say our Andy isnt, hes hopefully ghoing to win wimbledon this year, but when will we get a british women winner?
when will we get other men and women into even the second round!!
Its not the only sport we struggle with
any thoughts?
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#2
Its government money Keef.The government pours tons of money into tennis and are now re-considering their position.Part of the criteria for any sport getting government cash is that they produce results. Tennis has failed yet again as every British player was knocked out of wimbledon in round one with the exception of Murray. A totally dire situation. The tennis syustem in place is clearly useless as year after year we hear the same story. Many other sports as a result of this government cash did well at the Olympics last year...they produced and made the money work and turned it into gold medals, but not so tennis. There is something totally too cosy and rather well-to-do about the tennis club system.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#3
Yes Paulb
the name itself doesnt inspire, LAWN TENNIS ASSOC..
like the house of commons Wimbledon is on of those old boys clubs, way out date in todays society.
But that asde the L .T. A needs to gret its arse in gear we are being left behind again.
Need to rethink how they go about producinhg stars (or even players that can get passed the first round !!)
Glad to see the L.T.A. moving on this, but are they the right people to produce results?
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#4
I was at a wedding one time at the rather posh Hurlingham Club in West London, one of the homes of tennis, if not THE home. Clearly not a place for the general plebbery, it was a Pimms, Strawberry, and Porsche clientele only. My feeling is this kind of thing permeates through tennis and this is why they never produce results. It is a rather restricted sport for the hooray henry's and henrietta's. You can even get this feeling from the people commentating on your tv.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#5
Paulb
Yes with msany thats correct, The Kent county football assoc suffrered the same (probably still does) and F.A.
well out of date boys clubs.
None for best for the sport
Having watched it from the inside in cabinet/out cabinet on the county council and District It was cleasr even the county concentrated on thosde with skills with specialist places for those with major ability.
But we need more grass roots upwards encouragement for all, how much talednt do we miss cos of lack of cash, incentive to others who have ability but not the cash to do owt about it.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
paul is right, tennis is an exclusive sport.
i played for years at club level, but have never been offered membership at a good club.
they select their members by social status rather than ability.
kids have no chance unless their parents have dosh.
look at all our players over the years, the last working class player was fred perry about 60 years ago.
needless to say he was our last successful one.
having said all that, good luck to andy murray, though i have a feeling he has peaked too soon in the tournament.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#7
Correction - There is no such thing as Government money PaulB, it is all taxpayers money. As a taxpayer do I really want my money subsidising sport instead or being spent on more important items, like helicopters for our troops in Afghanistan?
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#8
BarryW
If I had the choice..and I know I don't....I would rather promote sport and life than buy weapons of destruction.After thousands of years man is still striving to find better and quicker means of destroying itself.Crazy really.....init....as my daughter would say.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)