RAW
tennis
SPORTS
With Britain having secured their best year in sport, and of course Andy Murray rising to victory at Wimbledon this year, it has undoubtedly enthused children and adults to explore new activities; and many more people are picking up rackets for the ?rst time as RAW Tennis director of coaching Jacob Johnson knows.
With over fifteen years of experience along with a passion to teach and a wonderful enthusiasm for the game, Jacob has focused much of his coaching on development work with youngsters, bringing them through to team and county level. Jacob says, “A role model for younger players is a symbol of what can be achieved. There has been a noticeable increase in people playing tennis both young and old and we need to encourage more play – this is my ultimate goal. Our programme is growing rapidly and early this year we introduced The Tennis Factory, a nonprofitable pay-and-play session in addition to our regular free coaching development at the weekend, both available to our junior members to encourage more play. We know we are very competitively priced and we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to improve their game and stay fit with little financial restraints.” Established in 2009, RAW Tennis has fast become one of Kent’s foremost tennis clubs offering group and private coaching programmes for juniors from as young as four years old and adults – both novices and intermediate players. RAW Tennis holds residency at the LTA accredited Old Wilsonians Lawn Tennis Club in Hayes, Bromley in addition to working closely with the local surrounding schools to offer free curriculum and after-school programmes. Junior and adult coaching programmes run Monday-Saturday throughout term time. Juniors are categorised in the Mini Red, Mini Orange, Mini Green and Full Tennis dependant on ability. The programme has been designed to allow young players to develop at a speed that suits them. Children are rewarded with Player of the Week medals and certificates to acknowledge specific improvements and their efforts. They actively encourage the more experienced junior members to join in adult tournaments and club sessions to assist in their development, and help to prepare them to play in inter-club matches when they are ready and keen to do so. Adults with a competitive streak might wish to consider playing in the teams in inter-club competitions. They enter men’s, ladies’ and mixed teams in the North Kent League as well as some teams in the Kent League. They also have veterans’ teams too. They play regular inter-club friendly matches and run a singles box league for members, and also run regular annual open tournaments. Whilst the annual Club Tournament attracts the more serious players, most of the other tournaments are largely intended for fun. The George Rice trophy is a mixed doubles competition completed on one day, where the combined ages of the two players must be at least 100. The Handicap Tournament includes both singles and doubles, and the handicaps applied make the matches less one-sided. This encourages wider participation and helps members to meet, and play with, others who they might not usually see. Old Wilsonians Lawn Tennis Club commands view from the top of Hayes Hill, and with adjacent open land, the small and friendly club provides a haven in commuter-belt suburbia. There are six floodlit tennis courts; the club house changing rooms and showers are open to members and guests from around 7am each day and the licensed bar is open from 8pm every evening. Most weekends the bar is also open at lunchtimes and throughout the afternoon when there is cricket or football to watch from the terrace. On warm evenings, folding doors allow the entire bar to open out onto the terrace, providing a wonderful location for a drink in the evening sunshine. There is a children’s park area to keep them entertained if there was not enough already! There is free WiFi and Sky Sports on the TV, and a dart board and pool table are also available. The club is very friendly where the social aspects are just as important as the sporting achievement. They hold a great variety of social events throughout the year including wine tasting, quiz nights, family discos as well as more formal dinners, and guests are always welcome. With a new clubhouse on the horizon and the everincreasing tennis coaching programme – not forgetting alternative sporting activities to include squash, cricket and football – the future for Old Wilsonians and its members is indeed game, set, match. RAW Tennis programs for adults and children run during term time and the super popular junior multi-sports camps are held when school’s out. Membership is compulsory for juniors to join the programme, and coaching sessions cost from just £5 for 45 minutes and £6.60 for 60 minutes. Adults can join the programme as non-members, although membership is encouraged to benefit from the perks. All of the coaches are licenced, qualified, CRB checked and hold relevant firstaid licences. To enquire about coaching at OWLTC please contact [email protected] or call 07563 603822.
RAW Tennis at Old Wilsonians’ Lawn Tennis Club Hayes Hill Hayes Bromley BR2 7HN www.rawtennis.co.uk www.facebook.com/rawtenniskent @rawtenniskent
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