ITF

The seminar showcased presentations from experts from the ITF's major tennis nations and two keynote presentations from outside tennis. Dan Burrows of Nike presented on 'A Better World through Sport' and Alex Balfour from London 2012 presented 'Using new media to help increase participation in sport'. The seminar focused on key topics within the world of tennis development, particularly the continued development and roll out of the rule change related to Tennis10s, the health benefits of tennis and the work being undertaken to position tennis as the "model sport for life". The seminar was also the occasion for the official launch of ITF's Tennis Xpress programme. Tennis Xpress is an easy, active and fun coaching programme for adults. The aim is to help starter adults to serve, rally and score (play the game) from the first session and to ensure that by the end of the course all adults will know the basic techniques, tactics and the rules of tennis and will be able to play competitive points using the green ball on a full court. The ITF has produced a series of marketing tools and online resources that will support national federations to roll the Tennis Xpress programme out globally – these materials will be made available at the end of February 2013. The LTA is the first nation to fully introduce Tennis Xpress into their domestic development structure and is currently training 100 specific sites to coordinate the programme. At the ITF AGM in July an extended Team Identification rule was approved; as of January 2013 all nations competing in Davis Cup and Fed Cup - including Davis Cup Zone Groups II, III and IV and Fed Cup Zone Groups II and III - will be required to comply with Team ID Regulations. The expansion is expected to further enhance Davis Cup and Fed Cup and give consistency throughout both competitions. PRESIDENTIAL & COMMUNICATIONS 31

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