With the LTA’s new focus on parks to help get more people playing tennis, Steve Riley of Will to Win has been confirmed as the final speaker at the 2015 TIA UK Summit
Sponsored by ActionCOACH, BLM Law, Perkins Slade and Traveleads, the second annual Summit takes place at The Queen’s Club on April 16.
“The fundamental problem that we face,” LTA chief executive Michael Downey said on Tuesday, “is that our sport is declining.
“We think the growth is going to be in the parks. We need to strike long-term agreements with local authorities.”
Riley set up Will to Win in 1997, leasing land from councils and working with the Royal Parks to deliver community tennis centres.
With 23 venues across west London, Will to Win offers coaching, camps, pay and play as well as tournaments and was voted Middlesex Club of the Year three years running between 2011 and 2013.
“Steve is going to present the final session on some of the trends and challenges involved in operating successful parks tennis venues,” said TIA UK Business Development Manager Phil Sandilands.
“Getting the right financial model is vital in order to maximise the opportunities to coaches and companies in delivering community tennis. Parks tennis is the key area for tennis growth in the UK and local authorities are looking for external organisations to provide innovative ways to maximise use of park courts and to reduce council subsidy in this area.
“His session is essential learning for coaches and companies delivering community tennis.”
Limited places are available for the 2015 TIA UK Summit. To book your place email Gilly English.
The 2015 Tennis Summit