| Player Development - Overview |
 | | Winners of the team trophy, Tunisia, at the 33rd ITF CAT African Junior Championships in Nigeria, 2010 |  | | Ganna Poznikhirenko (UKR) on the 2010 ITF Grand Slam International 18 & Under Touring Team to North Africa |  | | ITF 14 & Under Asian Championships – Group 2, Myanmar 2011 |  | | Medalists at the ITF East Africa 18 & Under Circuit in Rwanda, 2010 |
While it is an important goal to attract increasing numbers of people of all ages and nationalities to the sport of tennis, it is equally vital to guarantee a structure which makes it possible for the most naturally gifted recruits to pursue their dreams to the highest level of their potential.
The ITF Development programme and the Grand Slam Development Fund addresses this goal through what has become known as the Pyramid of Opportunity which aims to provide talented youngsters with the chance to begin to test their strengths within an international framework.
In the past, in many cases, there was little or no chance for players to travel to the relatively few existing junior circuits in less developed regions then being staged. Therefore, the Development Programme set in motion junior circuits at both the 13 / 14 & Under and 18 & Under levels in less developed regions with incentives for achievers to move to a higher level. In addition, the ITF operates three Regional Training Centres in Fiji, South Africa and Senegal, which players can pay to attend on a short term basis. A certain number of players may attend on a full time residential basis and some may receive scholarships for this.
The next stage is the ITF Junior Touring Teams, where the best players from the region are invited onto ITF Touring Teams to compete in other parts of the world. However, this still leaves the difficult problem for many national associations of trying to ensure that clearly able junior competitors can make that difficult transition from top national juniors into the professional ranks. Therefore, the Grand Slam Development Fund provides travel grants for talented players to play entry-level professional events (satellites, futures and Women's Circuit events).
From the novice to the junior player, from the junior to the professional, the Pyramid of Opportunity provides a structure for the successful tennis development of talented individuals which, in turn, leads to the growth of the game worldwide.
|
