Introducing the LTA Tennisables - Here to help kids crush it at tennis!
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We have today unveiled a major new campaign to inspire and engage children primarily aged 4-11 to play tennis.
The LTA Tennisables, a group of six colourful tennis ball characters, will be incorporated into the established LTA Youth programme, to make tennis more engaging, accessible and fun for the next generation of players.
Each of the six characters, Ace, Slice, Spin, Dash, Smash and Bounce, have a specific tennis component and individual personality trait. Bounce, who was born deaf will be voiced by actress, Rose Ayling-Ellis, known for her role in Eastenders and being the first deaf contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2021.
British stars Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper will star alongside the LTA Tennisables in an online and broadcast advertising campaign, developed by the LTA in partnership with creative agency BMB.
This will be supported by a six-episode YouTube video series designed to teach kids the basics of tennis, whether or not they own a racket or have access to a court. Each episode features an individual Tennisable, who demonstrates ways to develop a particular skill like speed, competitiveness, resilience, technique, brainpower.
Additionally, 55,000 physical tennis balls designed as the six characters will be distributed to schoolchildren across the UK through our school outreach programme, and lifesize Tennisables mascots will be on site at our summer events, including the Rothesay Open Nottingham, cinch Championships in London, Rothesay Classic Birmingham, Rothesay International Eastbourne.
Each tennis ball comes with its own QR code, which accesses the the video series, alongside information and links for booking onto the LTA Youth programme.
The LTA Youth programme, created to help more children enjoy the benefits of playing and staying in tennis, whatever their age, gender, ability, disability or background was launched in 2021.
Julie Porter, LTA Chief Operating Officer said: “The LTA Tennisables tread new ground for the LTA Youth programme, bringing tennis to life in a way we have not done before, getting a tennis ball into the hands of thousands of children and engaging them in this unique way.
"The campaign has been designed using extensive research and insight into the behaviours and motivations of children and their parents and the integrated advertising and content campaign is a game-changer for the LTA and our mission to open tennis up to new audiences.
"The successful roll-out of LTA Youth has already seen thousands of schoolteachers, coaches and community activators trained to deliver tennis sessions, contributing to the extremely positive rise in participation amongst children that we have recorded in the past year, and we can’t wait to see children engaging with these amazing characters this summer and beyond.”
