Plans by Tennis Tayside to tap into “Murray Mania” have proved successful in Dundee over the last year, but dwindling club membership and poor quality courts remain obstacles.
Despite having more public access tennis courts per head of population than almost any other part of Scotland, the city still struggles for adult participation in the sport.
Following the attention surrounding Andy Murray at Wimbledon a year ago, Tennis Tayside president Colin Allison said he was keen to build on the positive hype to attract youngsters in the area.
Since then the governing body has forged links with the national Active Schools programme and Dundee City Council Sports Development department to offer a range of new opportunities for children.
Extra coaching sessions are delivered at primary schools, dedicated summer and Easter camps have been rolled out and council activities have been expanded to include the racquet sport.
In addition, tennis kits worth £500 each have been provided to almost every primary school in Dundee, with a view to encouraging participation from an early age.
Tennis Tayside are looking into securing funding for court improvements from a variety of sources including the Tennis Foundation and also through community groups such as Friends of Baxter Park, which can apply for Sport Scotland money.
Mr Allison said although some of the city’s municipal courts are not up to standard, proposals to upgrade facilities are being set in motion.
He said, “There has been a huge amount of progress in Dundee in the last year and Tennis Tayside has been working with the Active Schools group and Dundee City Council Sports Development department on a range of projects.
“We had a representative from the Tennis Foundation visiting the city with a view to setting up what is known as a beacon site.
“He immediately identified Dawson Park as having potential.
“It would mean there would be somebody based there to develop the sport for 40 out of 52 weeks of the year.”
Many of the council-owned courts in Dundee are in poor condition and while those owned by private clubs are of a better standard, most are under used.
Mr Allison called on the city’s tennis fraternity to actively seek out increased membership and highlight the game as a viable alternative to the more mainstream sports.ParticipationHe said, “Dundee is in the position where is has one of the highest number of public access facilities in Scotland but one of the lowest participation rates.
“Part of that is down to the condition of some of the courts.
“All five private Dundee tennis clubs put together have a lower membership total than the St Andrews and Wormit tennis clubs combined.
“When they can produce more members than an entire city, then something must be far wrong.”
Recent children’s coaching sessions at Baxter Park run by level two tennis coaches drew more than five times the demand expected.
To ensure a pathway is created for youngsters to continue their interest, Tayside Tennis is proposing the formation of a city-wide Tennis Club that could be used by anybody for a small annual fee.
“Tennis needs to be brought to an affordable level and the city-wide club is something that is in the pipeline,” said Mr Allison.
“It would be a nomadic club, in that there would not be one set base.
“We have already had agreement from the council that Dawson Park could be used and Dundee University have said they would reduce their rates by 50%.Enthusiasm”There is enormous enthusiasm for tennis as a sport in Dundee but people just don’t know enough about it or where to go to get involved.”
Tennis Tayside runs leagues, develops talent and is responsible for allocating funds.
Young Dundee tennis fanatics have a chance to learn how to play like Nadal and Williams as the council begins its summer tennis coaching this month.
The active schools team is running coaching weeks at Dawson Park from July 19-23, the Lynch Sports Centre, July 26-30, and at the multi-use games area off Hebrides Drive from August 9-13.
Lessons are open for all school age children and cost £2 per session for primary pupils and £3 per session for secondary school pupils.
Bookings should be made through the active schools team on 01382 434888.
Andy Murray photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user mbevis.