Tennis Wales’ Post

GAME, SET AND MATCH ON $1.25MILLION PROJECT TO FLOOD-PROOF TENNIS IN SINGLETON Junior and senior tennis players are ready to serve an even more exciting summer in Singleton with game, set and match on a $1.25million project to prevent future flood damage at the Howe Park tennis complex. The Howe Park Tennis Club today celebrated the completion of upgrades to six synthetic courts, lighting and footpaths, as well as a range of works beneath the surface to raise the courts above flood level, at a special event that included a barbecue and of course, social tennis. The Hon Emily Suvaal MLC, representing Minister for the Hunter, the Hon Yasmin Catley, and Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore joined with former Australian professional tennis player, coach and commentator Louise Pleming and members of the club to cut the ribbon to officially declare the new courts open for play. The project was funded by a $1 million grant from the Community Assets Program, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, a $142,700 Local Government Recovery grant from the Office of Local Government, and the remainder by Council. Completed on schedule earlier this month, the project was initiated due to significant damage caused by prolonged periods of flooding. The works included preparation and compaction of a subbase layer, new asphalt layer and synthetic grass to elevate the courts above flood levels to increase their durability, as well as upgrades of existing underground power cables, a new stormwater line and lighting. Keep reading at https://lnkd.in/gVY_k2Z2

Work has begun on the extensive upgrade of the Melvin Sports Complex in Strabane, Northern Ireland. The £3.2m redevelopment will include a dedicated boxing facility and a multi-use, three-court sports hall with accommodation for gymnastics, new changing accommodation, changing places facility, extra storage and additional car parking spaces. The upgrade was made possible after Derry City & Strabane District Council received an investment of £1,845,000 through Sport NI’s National Lottery funded Multi Facility Fund. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eRCbn_XY #Sport #SportsFacility

This one is really special to me. I got to read through some of the applications for this grant program & I was moved by some of what I read from coaches/administrators. These messages came from high school coaches who are passionate about their student-athletes & about tennis being a beacon of light for them. I read emails from coaches who pay out of pocket for transportation, tennis balls, used racquets, & repurposing equipment such as racquet grips for their kids. Schools where tennis programs get a budget of a couple hundred dollars per year & if there isn't enough interest to play, then the programs get cut. I read some statements describing how the kids' confidence & passion for the sport were driven by the fact that they were able to get something as simple as new uniforms to wear. Little things can go a long way in making student-athletes feel supported & make them want to play sports, not just tennis. These are things that as a high school tennis player myself, I never thought about. I couldn't imagine where I'd be, if my dad had not introduced me to tennis & if I didn't have the opportunity to play in high school. These coaches are a huge part of keeping the heartbeat of this sport alive where parents or schools may not have the funds to make tennis a part of the kids lives. For me, personally, there is nothing that I do in the tennis world that's more important than growing the love of the sport at a grass roots level. If you have a passion for something & you want the next generation to feel that too, find ways you can help!

#ThankYouThursday 🎉 🙌Thank You Teamtheme Kent Future Survival Events StreetGames UK Thanet District Council Folkestone School Games THE GOLF FOUNDATION Cast A Thought Jimmys Tennis for pledging your support to #MoveTogether, Kent and Medway’s strategy for sport and physical activity. 🙏for playing your part in helping to get more people, more active, more often across the county. 🤝United Together, We Move Together. #EverydayActive #ConnectingCommunities #SupportingSport #HealthWellbeing #PositiveExperiences #ActiveEnvironments ✅If you or your organisation haven’t pledged yet, we welcome pledges at any time. Support the strategy and pledge via the link in the comments section below👇

It’s honestly surprising – and a little disheartening – to see the lack of interest in supporting a project that could have such a transformative impact on young people across the Midlands. We’re in a region filled with some of the most innovative and profitable organisations in the country, yet the enthusiasm to give back to the community through initiatives like this seems to be missing. Where are the forward-thinking, community-orientated business leaders who truly want to leave a legacy? This is an opportunity to empower thousands of youngsters, improve their physical and mental health, and inspire them to reach their full potential. It’s about so much more than just table tennis—it’s about creating opportunities, building confidence, and shaping the future of our region. The Jack Petchey Foundation has proven how successful this kind of initiative can be in London and Essex. Why can’t we replicate that here in the Midlands? Surely, there’s a business leader out there who understands that the biggest impact isn’t just measured in profits but in the difference they make to people’s lives. If we’re serious about building stronger, healthier, and more inclusive communities, now is the time to step up. Let’s not let this opportunity slip away! #TableTennis #MidlandsInspiration #NextGeneration #YouthDevelopment #JackPetcheyFoundation #SportsForAll #Midlands #Midlandsmanufacturing #midlandbusiness #inspirationalleaders

EB-2 NIW client approved with a proposed endeavor to BAN PICKLEBALL 🤣 😎 🤠 ! Great success! High Five! Tennis players 🎾 all over the USA raised her legal fees in a GoFundMe effort 🤓 . I had so much fun pretending to work on this case. Straight Approval in 4 days w/o premium processing 💯 Make Tennis Great Again 🎾 😁 🔥 Okay Okay, so this isn't exactly true. But wouldn't it be so awesome if it was? How would you actually put such a case together 🤔 ? Masters degree in exercise science and physical education. = EB-2 Advanced Degree Category Proposed endeavor is to work with community organizations, schools, parks, gyms, country clubs, and of course tennis aficionados to: 1) Prevent the spread of pickleball 2) Keep Americans actually running and staying in shape by playing tennis 3) Stopping the relatively sedentary lifestyle of pickleball 4) Allow for those with actual athletic ability to use the courts - Reference letters from the USTA (U.S. Tennis Association) of course. - Reference letters and an impact study from tennis equipment manufacturers - Hundreds of Amicus briefs filed in support of this EB-2 NIW Proposal How else would you have suggested we prepare for this case? Could we have gotten it approved in just 3 days? If we could win this "weaker" case for you, imagine what we could do with a good case 😉 . #immigration #globalmobility #pilots #aviation #greencard #eb2niw

🌟 Empowering Tennis Dreams with NXT Court 🌟 Breaking into the professional tennis world is tough—only a very small percentage of aspiring players actually make it. At NXT Court, we’re here to ensure that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of talented athletes. But we do more than just provide funding; we help players understand exactly what they need and how to achieve their goals. From financial education and budgeting to mapping out income streams and helping raise the necessary funds, we give young athletes the tools and knowledge to succeed. It’s not just about money; it’s about making sure every player has a clear, achievable path forward. If you’re passionate about supporting the next generation of tennis champions, let’s connect. Reach out to us to discuss how we can work together to turn potential into reality. 🎾 #Tennis #AthleteSupport #NXTCourt #MakeADifference

How new Sport England funding is supporting the next generation of basketball talent to go from grassroots to GB 👉 https://ow.ly/YLk850Uzc4c

Frustration with Tennis Court Availability Yesterday was meant to be a fun family day out on the tennis courts. I bought new rackets and balls, and took my wife and our four daughters to play tennis. Our excitement quickly turned to frustration. First, we went to a park where the courts are usually free. To our surprise, they were being renovated. The entrance was locked, and the nets were down. Disappointed but still hopeful, we headed to another park known for its great free courts. We arrived at 6:40 PM only to find the courts padlocked with a new payment passcode entry system. After trying to sort it out, we were told there were no bookings available until 7 PM on Sunday despite all 4 courts being empty. As someone who is normally very cool-headed, I found myself extremely frustrated. How is this setup encouraging youth to play tennis? I understand the need for court maintenance, but adding a payment barrier seems counterproductive. This will certainly deter many from picking up the sport. Today, of all days, with the Wimbledon final and the Euro final, I can't help but reflect on how this situation is discouraging the future generation from getting off their phones and into sports. #Tennis #Availability #Inclusion

⚽ Its #TrendingTopicsThursday ⚽ This week, we will explore the open-access research article “‘It’s a far cry from small boys in the park, jumpers for goalposts. Isn’t it?’ the changing space of informal youth football in the UK” 🥅 Explore some green and grey spaces and shifts between them in informal youth football in the UK. This is a must-read for anyone interested in football, youth sports, and leisure 📚 Click the link to explore the full article here: https://lnkd.in/esQP36aK #Football #UK #Youth