The AASE programme is now in its third year. The scheme aims for its 16-19 year old players to train for a minimum of 12 hours per week at a participating centre, study part time and take their initial coaching qualifications. AASE is backed by government funding allowing the whole programme to be subsidised and provided at a competitive rate.
The scheme is fairly big news across UK sport. Today there are around 2,500 young athletes on AASE schemes throughout England in a wide range of sports. Swimmer Rebecca Adlington became a national hero when she won two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics while working towards her apprenticeship. Three other AASE athletes also returned home with medals.
Good news for tennis is that at its first inspection, the LTA received an excellent review from Ofsted in terms of the quality and consistency in the delivery of the programme. The detailed, week-long inspection reported: ‘Very high standards of coaching are linked to specific skills development for each player, supported by detailed analysis of performance in competitive play. Most learners have made significant improvements within LTA and International Tennis Federation ratings and rankings.’
All the LTA’s High Performance Centres have extensive indoor facilities and offer a full range of playing surfaces. They also provide specialist staff such as physiotherapists, nutritionists, fitness instructors and experts in injury rehabilitation. Enrichment activities feature strongly with regular visits to competitions and tournaments and talks from international coaches and players. Success rates are good while learner retention is as high as 100%.
Where is it delivered?
The AASE programme is delivered through 18 High Performance Centres (HPCs). There are also players on the scheme that train at their local club, but then gain access to the HPC once a week for tennis training and related work. This allows them to train from their home base, access some of the AASE funding and train with other players on a regular basis. So don’t assume that the AASE scheme is not an option if you are unable or don’t want to attend a HPC full-time.
What are the entry criteria?
Players need to have a minimum of a 6.1 rating to access the scheme. They also need to be actively competing – playing a minimum of 40 matches per year.
How does the education work?
All players on the AASE scheme have to study – although they do not have to study full-time. Over their two years on the programme players have to complete around 780 learning hours of academic study. There is flexibility in how this is achieved; it may be two A levels or a Btec in Sport – often players choose sport related subjects, but they do not have to do so.
Crucially, the combination of gaining academic qualifications alongside tennis training achievements, is viewed positively by UK and US universities. This allows players to commit to their tennis for the two years and then make a decision about where to go next – continuing tennis at university will still be an option.
In addition to academic studies, players on the programme have to complete a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in ‘achieving excellence in sport performance’. The NVQ is delivered by the HPC and completed through players training and competing. LTA Education tutors assess players on this qualification through termly visits to the centre and national training days.
The NVQ has two benefits; firstly, it helps their tennis performances as it involves goal setting and planning, and secondly, it is a great foundation for tennis coaching or a career in the wider tennis industry if that is the path a player decides to follow.
What’s the tennis programme like?
The centres have to provide players on the scheme with a minimum of 12 hours training per week.
HPCs usually deliver these 12 hours as squad work with other AASE players and players accessing the HPC. This is a great training opportunity, although it would be wrong to assume that this is the complete training programme that is needed to move onto a professional tennis career.
Players that are on the AASE programme and aiming for the very top of the pro game will usually add onto their schedule more individualised work and training. This needs to be discussed and arranged directly with the HPC.
Who’s on the scheme?
A whole range of players. Several of GB’s top juniors are on the scheme – some AASE players competed in Junior Grand Slams during 2008. At the highest level, a British top 10 senior player is on the scheme.
The opportunity to continue studying is an attractive option to players looking for a break from tennis all day, every day. There are lots of players on the scheme who want to give tennis their best shot and love the game, but who also realise that academic qualifications and university admission is pretty important too – and the scheme allows them to pay attention to both.
How much does it cost?
This needs to be discussed with the HPC directly. The HPC receives funding per player on the scheme and you should see the evidence of this funding in the price of the 12 hours tennis and support work. As a player supplements their tennis programme with more individual work, tournament trips, etc… then the price starts to increase. So the cost varies – but the bottom line is that the funding is significant.
Summary
The AASE programme is great news and parents of players moving towards 16 years should find out more. It fills an area that all of us in tennis have been talking about for years. We should be looking after the players who get to 16 years, are still playing and love their tennis as they play a very significant role in the future of our game.
Interested? Find out more on how to get involved
Read about the AASE Celebration Day at the NTC