05 Mar A recap of 2021
By Lyndall Newton-Early, TwistFizz C.I.C. Director
Last year the junior programme expanded across three venues, Eltham Park South, Plumstead Common, and Cator Park MUGA with over 250 juniors aged between 4 – 17 years old playing weekly.
Adult sessions included everything from 6-week beginner courses, cardio tennis to team training. Over 70 adults play in the coaching programme every week with plenty more taking advantage of the Go Play Pass to get on court.
Our focus is to encourage people, young and old to keep active outdoors. Young people aged 11+ are offered subsidised sessions on a weekly basis, a number of our young players give back by assisting our coaching team to deliver the junior programme. Six players aged 11+ have achieved their Young Tennis Leaders Award.
Every Thursday we run a women’s only session, a few of our regular players started their journey as complete beginners, now representing TwistFizz in team tennis. Three, who also have children in the programme have completed their LTA level 1 coach qualification and regularly help on a Saturday morning delivering junior tennis sessions.
During the summer we delivered a vibrant summer programme, and importantly our coaches went into the community to deliver free sessions. Projects included delivering to young people living in the Charlton Triangle Estate, taster sessions as part of the Holiday Activity Food Fund, and getting involved in the Together 21 event, held in Charlton Park. We’re grateful to partners including the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Peabody Trust.
Despite all the interruptions caused by COVID-19 restrictions we still managed to field a number of junior and adult teams that represented Eltham Park South in the Kent Leagues.
There is now an Eltham Park South Steering group, made up of a broad section of the users at Eltham Park South, this group will be instrumental in shaping tennis provision at the park.
That’s a brief recap of 2021, none of the above would have been possible without our team of coaches adult volunteers, and players who really make Eltham Park South a great place to play tennis.
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