1. TOURNAMENT REFEREES MEETING SHANKILL LTC September 19th 2007 Peter Farrell - Development Officer.

2. CHILDREN LOVE TO COMPETE! “Healthy, enjoyable, easy to access competition is arguably the biggest contributor to retaining players in the game” LTA (UK) Blueprint 2006.

3. A MAJOR KEY TO RETENTION/ENJOYMENT FOR YOUNG PLAYERS: plentiful opportunities to participate in appropriate competitive environments…

4. THE REFEREES IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN IRISH TENNIS BY HELPING TO PROVIDE THAT COMPETITION..

5. It is vital that the type and circumstances of the competition are suitable to the age group.

6. SCALE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR: fun (success) game development (technique) safety (injury)

7. THE I.T.F., WITH THE `PLAY and STAY ` CAMPAIGN, HAVE FORMALISED BEST PRACTICE RE EQUIPMENT FOR JUNIOR PLAYERS.

8. IRISH LAUNCH OF `PLAY AND STAY` Fitzwilliam LTC, July 2007.

9. MOST RELEVANT ISSUES FOR THIS MEETING: type of ball court size/marking racquet size

10. SUMMARISING THE THREE BALL SYSTEM: RED ORANGE GREEN slower and lower bounce = EASIER!

11. THE CORRECT BALL MUST BE MATCHED WITH THE CORRECT COURT..

12. STAGE 3 - RED Red Ball (sponge/felt) Red Court Size: +10% Size: 11m x 5.5m Ages: 4 - 8 years Net: 80cm

13. STAGE 2 - ORANGE Orange Ball Orange Court 50% slower than standard ball Size: 18m x 6.5m Ages: 7-11 years

14. STAGE 1- GREEN Green Ball Green Court 25% slower than standard ball full singles court. Ages: 8+

15. Recommendation from ITF: “After children progress through these stages they are ready to play with a `normal` ball on a full size court”.

16. HOW DOES THIS EFFECT JUNIOR OPEN TOURNAMENTS IN IRELAND?? NOT A LOT!

17. STAGE 3 - RED. Mini competitive circuit to be developed- `blitz days`

18. STAGE 2 - ORANGE. Difficulty with court markings/lines remains to be satisfactorily resolved... so... Tennis Ireland proposes to set up a circuit of tournaments at Public Parks, where Stage 2 courts can be permanently marked.

19. So...what are we asking the Referees to do?? PLEASE ARRANGE TO USE THE GREEN BALL ON THE GREEN COURT (full singles court) FOR ALL EVENTS AT UNDER 10 LEVEL.

20. WE HOPE TO HAVE AN IRELAND BASED SUPPLIER OF THESE BALLS SOON. HOWEVER, IN THE MEANTIME THE BALLS ARE AVAILABLE NOW FROM THE U.K:

21. Type of Ball www.tennisplayandstay.com (ITF) large quantities Add VAT, incls.shipping www.zsig.com (ITF Approved, small quantities). Incls. VAT,add shipping RED 13 euro per doz 19-22 euro per doz ORANGE11 euro per doz 16-19 euro per doz GREEN 11 euro per doz 16-19 euro per doz

22. COMPETITION WHICH FITS THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD TAKES INTO ACCOUNT: 1. Physical attributes of children (short matches) 2. Mental attributes of children (concentration span) 3. Lack of emphasis on results (more short matches) 4. The value of team competition 5. Use of correct equipment (ball, racquet, court).

23. www.tennisplayandstay.com Challenge Formats Elimination Formats Group Formats Rotation Formats Team Formats ARTICLES/ADVICE

24. I believe we are pushing against an open door...