Junior Tennis Initiative in focus: new course on ITF Academy

As part of our programme of sharing coaching resources through the ITF Academy during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ITF has this week launched a new course which focuses on our Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI).

The free online course is entitled ‘Understanding the ITF Junior Tennis Initiative’ and highlights the significance of the 14-and-under grassroots programme, the assistance provided by the ITF to National Associations and the importance of National JTI Coordinators.

With limited activity around the world at the present time, not only does this resource allow the National JTI Coordinators to refresh their understanding of the JTI, but also plan for when programmes, which have introduced more than 300,000 children to tennis, restart.

The course also provides a platform for the 5,000 deliverers, whether they be schoolteachers, tennis coaches or administrative organisers, who are engaged with the JTI to improve their knowledge base and stimulate fresh ideas to improve the delivery of their national junior programme. 

The ITF's Head of Participation and Coaching, Miguel Crespo, said: “This is the latest educational tool which the ITF is making available through its ITF Academy, ensuring that people who wish to connect with the tennis world during this extremely difficult time can do so.

“The Junior Tennis Initiative is a key grassroots programme and gives children their first taste of tennis. It’s importance in terms of participation and development cannot be understated. 

“While available to all with an interest in the JTI, an important aim of rolling out this course is to ensure all National JTI Coordinators have access to the ITF Academy and its vast resources and can share with their respective delivers involved in the national programme.”

The online JTI course aims to build on the National Junior Tennis Initiative Coordinator Global Workshop, which was held in Bangkok, Thailand prior to the ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference in October 2019.

The inaugural workshop gave the 50 National JTI Coordinators and deliverers in attendance the opportunity to share best practice and hone their skills during the practical on-court activities and theoretical sessions.

Junior Tennis Initiative: an overview

The JTI is the 14-and-under development programme for a national tennis association, which provides opportunities for increased participation in tennis for junior players and identifies the most talented individuals for focused development within their country. 

The programme is a major part of a national association’s player development pathway and nations are first helped to set up competition and training for boys and girls aged 10 and under using smaller courts and slower balls.

From here, the most talented 14-and-under players from their respective age categories are selected to receive performance-based training and have access to national 12-and-under and 14-and-under competition.  

A total of 131 ITF member national associations had an active JTI in 2019 – an increase of 20 nations compared to the previous year – and received assistance to support their 14-and-under junior programme from the ITF. 

During the previous calendar year, the ITF invested close to $900,000 in the JTI worldwide, providing equipment and subsidy assistance for National JTI Coordinators. More than 14,000 rackets and bats, and over 184,000 tennis balls, were shipped to JTI nations.

 JTI – Global Key Facts and Stats 2019

• 310,675 players participated in the JTI, with 153,916 boys and 157,146 girls involved in the programme
• 296,532 entrants in Tennis10s competitions and clubs
• 2,933 tennis facilities used, including 1,634 schools and 1,299 clubs
• 2,923 coaches and 2,807 schoolteachers delivered sessions
• 277 team entries in team championships, 335 players from the JTI participating in the 12-and-under age bracket and 339 players in the 14-and-under
• 517 players, 258 boys and 259 girls, from the JTI have attained an ITF Junior Ranking (combined) since 2013

The ITF Academy has a range of educational resources which all deliverers can access and utilise through the Tennis iCoach library in order to advance their professional development. 

Further information on what the ITF can offer through its ITF Academy platform during the COVID-19 pandemic is available here. You can register for the ITF Academy and access the JTI course by clicking here.

The Junior Tennis Initiative guidance document 2020 is available here.