Local allplay Tennis Challenge

What is it?

• The allplay challenge follows 4 celebrities, Lorraine Kelly, Denise Lewis, Tim Lovejoy and Jamie Theakston, who have hardly played tennis before, as they go on a 6 month journey to learn to play. It all culminates in a match in front of thousands of people at the AEGON Masters at the Albert Hall.
• The challenge is a great way to show people who are new to the sport that tennis is for everyone.
• You can create your own allplay challenge in your area, with local personalities, to generate interest in the sport and in your place to play.

How to promote it

• Make the most of the positions of your challengers in the local community.  It’s great for them to promote the challenge in their workplace where possible, to help spread the word.
• Encourage your challengers to use social media to create more publicity quickly and for free through Facebook and Twitter.
• Try to keep local press updated with any developments in the challenge.  They might even like to give you a regular spot for updates on your challengers progress to build momentum for the final event.
• Let as many people know as possible about the grand finale event, by putting up posters on local community notice boards, supermarkets etc.  Don’t forget allplay has resources that you can edit and print to help you do this.

How to organise it

• Carefully choose who you ask to be your challengers. 
  1. Try to involve people who have a wide influence in the community, for example someone who works in schools and can involve staff and pupils; a local journalist etc.
  2. Try to pick people who are new to tennis so that others who have not played before can identify with them
  3. Choose people who will enjoy the challenge and have a positive attitude towards the experience
• It is important to make the challenge appealing to those you are asking to be involved.  Make sure they know the coaching sessions will be organised at convenient times for them.  You could also offer an incentive, for example, a free 6 month membership at your club.
• Try to plan the coaching sessions with as much notice as possible.  All of your challengers will be busy people and booking in time to coach them may be difficult so try and give yourself as much time as possible to prepare for this. 
• Organise a fun event for the grand finale (see our hints and tips on running successful Open Days).  Make sure there are activities that everyone can be take part in.  Getting them involved as well as watching the challenge match, will help encourage them to take up the sport.

Local allplay challenge Case Study

There are templates you use to promote your allplay challenge and finale event on our allplay Resources area