GROW THE GAME
Do you love tennis? Are you one of those people who enjoy giving back to your community? If so, the Building Tennis Communities (BTC) Strategy is looking for people just like you to become our Community Champions.
Tennis Canada and the Provincial Tennis Associations created the BTC Strategy in 2000 and have since been testing this approach to growing the game. Over 110 communities across the country are involved. The Community Champions in those towns and cities have done an amazing job of promoting tennis through the development of partnerships with community leaders.
The goal of the BTC Strategy is to bring more people into the game of tennis and to keep them playing for life -- facilitating growth and sustainability. The approach is based on the philosophy that tennis has a role to play in community development and thus, if seen by community leaders as a valuable asset to the community, will be supported accordingly.
Tennis Canada provides funding assistance for the Community Champion(s) for a three year period and, after that, we work together to find the resources to make sure that tennis continues to contribute to the health of your community.
If you are interested in becoming a Community Champion, we want to hear from you! Please contact your Provincial Tennis Association or e-mail Julie Staples, Director, Community Development at jstaples@tenniscanada.com
BUILDING TENNIS COMMUNITIES: MODEL DESCRIPTION
The model being used to guide the implementation of this Strategy is grounded in three key components: Community Champions, Community Partners and the Tennis Pathway.
A 'Community Champion' is a person or group who are passionate about tennis and well connected to other community leaders (e.g. youth group leaders, town/city counselors, health professionals, police, local businesspeople etc.) in his/her city or town. Community Champions might be retired persons, teachers, entrepreneurs or tennis coaches or volunteers...anyone with the time, interest and a general understanding of community needs. It is essential that the Champion live in the community.
The role of this individual is to ensure that strong partnerships with community leaders are established such that those community leaders clearly understand the role that tennis can play in contributing to the reduction or elimination of some community problems (e.g. overweight kids, delinquency, etc.) and to increasing community spirit (via community-based events, etc.).
'Community Partners' are community leaders that have been identified by the Community Champion as people who are important to maintaining the health of tennis in the community. Community Champions are encouraged to establish partnerships with education, tennis and parks and recreation leaders as a starting point and are encouraged to consider partnerships with others in the community such as: local businesses, media, politicians, doctors, police, etc. It is suggested that the Community Champion, with the assistance of his/her Provincial Association contact, host a 'community tennis rally' where community leaders are brought together to discuss the benefits that tennis brings to the community and to agree on an action plan that meets community needs.
The 'Tennis Pathway' consists of four components on a continuum: Try, Learn, Play and Compete. Each of these components can be put into action through various programs and activities depending upon community needs. For example, a Try activity might be a tennis demonstration area as part of a larger community event where children and adults can come and try the game in a fun environment. A Learn activity might be a series of lessons interspersed with opportunities to play the game. Moving participants from one level of programming to the next along the continuum is important to ensuring that participants stay involved.