AEGON Schools Tennis programme wins at 2011 UK Coaching Awards

The AEGON Schools Tennis programme has won the Coaching Intervention Award at the 2011 UK Coaching Awards, hosted by sports coach UK.

Launched in 2009, the scheme, run by the Tennis Foundation and supported by the Lawn Tennis Association, has found solutions to delivering tennis to large groups of children in small spaces, one of two main barriers identified as hindering tennis in schools.

Local coaches have been provided with training courses about how to deal with the issue, while the scheme has facilitated links between coaches and schools, with the coaches themselves supported through training and resources.

Since 2009, AEGON Schools Tennis has provided more than one and a half million children with the opportunity to play tennis where schools have received equipment packs free of charge – including more than 300,000 rackets and 600,000 tennis balls.

On top of this Tennis Leaders, older juniors starting out on the tennis career pathway through to adult volunteers looking to support their local coach, referee or club official, have been trained and put in place.

The impact has been enormous with 12,515 schools supported by the initiative, 19,660 teachers and coaches trained, and 41,692 children and young people participating in inter-schools tennis competitions.

Find out more about the AEGON Schools Tennis Programme

The awards ceremony took place at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London’s Knightsbridge at a ceremony that was attended by sports coach UK patron, Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal.

Tom Gibbins, Head of Education at the Tennis Foundation, collected the award from Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport and Olympics, after tennis beat other nominees from cricket and netball.

Gibbins said afterwards: "It’s fantastic to win the award and I and the rest of the Tennis Foundation are looking forward to getting a racket in the hand of even more children in 2012.

"The Tennis Foundation and LTA are working hard to ensure that more tennis in schools is part of the lasting legacy from London 2012."

Ian Murray, AEGON Head of Sponsorship, commented: “We were delighted to hear of the recognition that the AEGON Schools Tennis programme has received through winning this award.

"AEGON is proud to be the Lead Partner of British Tennis, supporting the sport from grass roots to world class events like the AEGON Championships, and it’s great to see one of the programmes aimed at increasing tennis participation within schools recognised and rewarded by sports coach UK.”

Find out more about AEGON and British Tennis

The annual UK Coaching Awards, hosted by sports coach UK, honours coaches and coaching organisations who have achieved outstanding success over the past 12 months.

Read more and find out all the winners at the UK Coaching Awards

The vision of sports coach UK is coaching excellence, enabling all children, players and athletes to follow their dreams, have fun and fulfil their potential.