ITF

In 2013, the total investment in Development Programme activities was $4.1 million, with $2.47 million being provided by the ITF and $1.63 million by the Grand Slam nations. This brings the total funding to date since 1986 (when the Grand Slam® Development Fund (GSDF) first began) to $87.7 million. In addition, income of $300,000 was also provided by Olympic Solidarity (OS) and other sources for development projects. The implementation of the ITF Development initiatives would not be possible without the ongoing efforts of the nine full-time ITF Development Officers who spend an average of 30 weeks a year on the road working with National Associations, Regional Associations, players and coaches. There were two new additions to the Development team in 2013: John Goede (SUR) was appointed Development Officer for the Caribbean while Darran Wrighton (GBR) became the Development Officer for Pacific Oceania. One of the important areas of activity for the Development department is coaches' education. The ITF does not certify coaches but does encourage and help the ITF's developing member nations to become self-sufficient in coaches education so that their own qualified tutors can use the ITF approved syllabi to deliver the courses. In 2013, 48 courses were held with 18 of them being funded by OS. In November, the ITF's coach education flagship event, the 18th ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference by BNP Paribas was held in Cancun, Mexico. The biennial event attracted more than 800 coaches from 85 countries. Keynote speakers in attendance at the five-day conference included former US Davis Cup captains Patrick McEnroe and Tom Gullikson, Bruce Elliott, Nick Bollettieri, Jim Loehr and Jose Higueras. One of the highlights of the five-day event included a women's panel with British Fed Cup captain Judy Murray, WTA Vice-President Player Liaison Ashley Keber, and former Roland Garros champion Mary Pierce. The conference also marked the launch of the latest version of Tennis iCoach, which is the ITF's online coaching and sport science distance learning platform. Coaches anywhere in the world can use the site to educate themselves on the latest tennis coaching information and this content is accessed by over 7,000 coaches each month. It is important to acknowledge the continued support the ITF and its member nations receive from Olympic Solidarity. In addition to grants for technical courses, OS has also provided scholarships for 10 coaches from 10 countries to undergo an intensive course of high-level training and study in Valencia, Spain. The ITF/GSDF Player Development Pathway illustrates how initiatives from the ITF Development Programme can assist a talented player from their first experience playing at school or in a club, through to the top levels of junior tennis, and on to the professional game. The Pathway operates at both national and international level. The national level helps nations to establish a 14 & under junior development programme through the Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI). ITF assistance for the national JTI programme can include a subsidy to help a National Association hire a national coordinator, free equipment, educational resources and regular visits from the ITF Development Officers. In 2013, the ITF distributed 3,410 rackets, 1,500 mini-tennis bats and 95,880 balls to more than 80 JTI nations. At the international level, players progressing from their national programmes are given the chance to gain valuable training and competitive opportunities through ITF/ Grand Slam Development Fund-funded junior circuits, ITF/GSDF junior touring teams, ITF training centres and GSDF travel grants. In 2013, 26 regional junior events (12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 & under) across five continents took place with financial assistance from the ITF and GSDF, as well as technical assistance from the ITF Development Officers. ITF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 95,880 7,000 Coaches accessed iCoach each month Balls sent to JTI nations The ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference attracted more than 800 coaches from 85 countries. 21 20 DEVELOPMENT: ITF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (Continued overleaf )

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