ITF

ITFWORLD WINTER 2017 27 www.itftennis.com "That was one of my strengths as a player, I always felt and wanted and needed to learn something new," she said. "We can learn from everyone if we have our eyes and ears open." While Pierce reached the top of the pyramid, success for many can be as simple as taking a few games off the top seed at a local tournament. That was one of the takeaway points from the four days — the journey of the player can be looked at in many different ways. At the elite level, the coveted destination is often the Top 100, but for most it's more a case of random dots plotted on a graph rather than the perfect upward trajectory. That's why first experiences in tennis are so important, because they determine what way those lines will travel. "It's critical," said Haggerty. "First experiences determine if you enjoy the sport and want to continue playing. Every year, tennis brings in new players but almost the same amount leave the sport. We call it the leaky bucket and we have to be careful of it." Key to that sustainability is coaching and an understanding of how to tailor lessons to individual needs. As Haggerty explained, "When you travel around the world you realise it's not a one-size-fits-all solution." So whether a coach is introducing a six-year-old boy to the sport for the first time in Nairobi or honing the skills of a 67-year-old woman who has rediscovered a passion for the game in Miami, they hold a big responsibility: to make tennis fun and keep them in the game. After all, tennis can be a sport for life. Former player Elena Likovtseva spoke about women's tennis and training There was a demonstration of blind tennis during the event Cyril Genevois presents on dynamic balance training Stuart Miller, ITF Senior Executive Director, Integrity and Development, presented on the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme Coach Irena Chichmarova speaking during the round table event

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