Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/366594
14 ITFWORLD SUMMER 2014 PhILIPPE ChATRIER AWARD JUNIOR TENNIS INITIATIVE JTI workshops make an ImpacT The ITF has held six regional educational workshops since October 2013 to raise the standard and delivery of national 14-and-under development programmes around the world. Conducted as part of the ITF Junior Tennis Initiative, these are already making a positive difference in member nations. T he Junior Tennis Initiative is a 14-and-under junior development programme funded by the ITF which currently boasts 112 supporting nations. The programme forms the foundation of a National Association's player development pathway in ITF member nations and is overseen by the National Association. The objective of the JTI is to provide opportunities for increased participation in tennis, as well as identifying the most talented players for focused player development. The JTI incorporates three key elements: Tennis10s development (10-and-under tennis) within primary schools and clubs; Junior Performance Tennis training and specific competitive opportunities for players with the most potential; and the effective use of equipment such as balls, bats and rackets, provided by the ITF. Hosted in six regions — East Africa (Burundi), the Caribbean (Antigua), West Africa (Togo), Southern Africa (South Africa), Central America (Guatemala) and Asia (Thailand) — the workshops were delivered by experienced ITF experts and were attended by 124 people representing 54 JTI nations. With the support of the IOC's Olympic Solidarity Commission programme which assisted with the funding for the East Africa, Caribbean and West Africa workshops, the ITF was able to invest in the resources and time to deliver the six workshops successfully. "We have received the education and the tools during this last four days and now it is in our hands to make a difference in our own nations," said Rotimi Akinloye, National JTI Coordinator for Nigeria after the West Africa workshop. "It has been a fabulous week and I am very happy to have been involved in a very inspirational workshop." National JTI Coordinator Braen Aneros felt that the Asia workshop had been extremely useful for the Cambodian national programme. "We have a very good idea of the changes that we need to make. We have learnt that we are doing some very positive things in our programme but we have also learnt that we need to make changes in order to develop our players." ITF Director of Development Dave Miley summarised the impact that the workshops had. "The JTI is a unique programme in the world of sport and these workshops have specifically focused on educating the key drivers of participation within each nation. With the level of investment and the time that the ITF places on the programme, there is no doubt we are supporting the nations with developing more, better players." Coaches at the Asian workshop demonstrating physical conditioning drills ITF expert Mike Barrell runs through 10-and-under demonstrations with two coaches in Burundi National JTI Coordinators, coaches and ITF experts in Guatemala