The Tribune

THE International Tennis Federation (ITF) extended an invitation to president Perry Newton to speak at the 2021 National Junior Tennis Initiative(JTI) Global Workshop.

There were over 140 countries in attendance, divided into various sessions. Newton presented on The Play Tennis Bahamas introductory programme and the keys to its success, the development of Island Association and the synchronised growth in The Bahamas junior tennis.

The Bahamas has a focus on three of the ITF’s strategic development areas - participation, education and facilities. “The Play Tennis Bahamas programme has been an example of a tennis model that is exemplary. The programme has been a strategic tool the BLTA has used to introduce new players to the sport of tennis,” according to a press release. “The BLTA and the entire tennis community congratulates Newton on the opportunity he received to present The Play Tennis Bahamas programme to the world. The programme has been instrumental in laying the developmental foundation to get new children into the sport with a view to having them “play and stay”.

The fall installment of the programme saw over 75 participants raising the attendance in 2021 to almost 200 children.

“We encourage persons (coaches and players) in the tennis community to continue to provide their talent and services to this exceptional initiative that continues to attract hundreds of children yearly to the sport.”

The last visit for island associations from the BLTA team was to Freeport, Grand Bahama. This weekend Newton and vice-president Chilean Burrows met a warm reception from the Grand Bahama Tennis Association president Natishkah Barett and team. The group toured tennis courts, attended a junior tournament and discussed developmental goals. The team also met with the Minister of Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey. This trip rounded out the BLTA’s tri-island visits to Abaco, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama.

The goal of the BLTA administration is to engage all of its sanctioned associations, to be aware of the uniqueness of each island, and to seek ways in which the BLTA can support islandassociations in their efforts for development as tennis develops and grows in The Bahamas.