ITF Central America & Caribbean Junior Team to COSAT Circuit
The ITF continues to assist in the further development of promising juniors in the region by selecting the best players to be part of the ITF Team to the COSAT Circuit in South America. Four players from the English speaking Caribbean were selected so that they could benefit from playing higher level of tennis outside their region, as follows: Rodney Carey (BAH), Kerrie Carthwright (BAH), Katolina Klonaris (BAH) and Fausthyara Pietersz (AHO).
Rodney Carey from Bahamas has been selected to join the International 16 & Under Team to Europe which will tour from 29 May 7 July 2007, as follows:
28 May 2 June Memorial Nico Crotti Crema, Italy 4 June 9 June Citta di, Montecatini, Italy 11 June 16 June 43 Torneo dell Avvenire, Milano, Italy 18 June 23 June Derby Cadets, La Baule, France 25 June 30 June Le Pont des Gιnιrations, Le Pontet, France 2 July 7 July Paris-Cadets, Paris, France
We wish him all the best on the tour.
ITF Junior Touring Team to North Africa
Olivia Bennett from Trinidad & Tobago has been selected to join the ITF Junior Touring Team to North Africa participating in ITF Junior World Ranking Tournaments from 28 May to 7 July 2007, as follows:
28 May 2 June Training Camp, Rabat, Morocco 4 June 9 June Riad 21, Rabat Morocco (grade 3) 11 June 16 June Raquette dOr, Mohammedia Morocco (grade 2) 19 June 24 June Mediterranee Avenir, Casablanca, Morocco (grade 2) 27 June 1 July Tournoi International Junior de la Ville de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia (grade 3) 2 July 7 July 7th Catharge Cup, Tunis Tunisia (grade 4)
We wish her all the best on the tour.
For further information on the ITF Touring Team programme, please click here.
Guatemala boys and girls teams qualified for the final qualifying event which will be held in Montreal, Canada from 4 - 6 May.
The World Finals will be held in Prostejov, Czech Republic from 6 - 11 August on clay.
St. Vincent participated for the first time at the event and Fabrice George pulled of a remarkable win over the no. 1 from El Salvador, Alberto Suriano 1-6, 6-3, 9-7 in a keenly contested match. Well done Fabrice and coach, Anthony Boyea.
Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas
Pre-Qualifying: El Salvador: 26 31 March
Guatemala qualified for the final qualifying round which will be held in Montreal, Canada from 4 - 6 May.
The World Finals will take place in Reggio Emilia, Italy from 25 to 30 September 2007.
After a 2 year absence Jamaica participated at the Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas with two players, Brandon Burke and Adam Vaz and finished 3rd in the final standings of the competitions. Excellent performance Brandon and Adam and we look forward to seeing Jamaica in 2008.
Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas
Pre-Qualifying: El Salvador: 26 31 March
Bahamas qualified for the final qualifying round which will be held in Montreal, Canada from 4 - 6 May.
The World Finals will take place in Reggio Emilia, Italy from 25 to 30 September 2007.
The Bahamas dream team (as I would call them): Kerrie Cartwright, Kalotina Klonaris and Elanqua Griffin swept aside their opponents 3-0 to win the Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas. No rubber was lost, from the round robin to the knock-out round. We wish them the best at the final qualifying in Canada.
For further information regarding the Junior Team Competitions, please refer to the ITF Juniors website: http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/teamcompetitions
ITF 14 & Under Caribbean Development Championships
The ITF 14 & Under Caribbean Development Championships is scheduled to take place in St. Vincent from 12 - 19 August 2007. Information will be sent to Federations in June. I am appealing to invited nations to participate in the event and to please organize your teams early in order to meet the necessary deadlines.
Regional Training Camp
An ITF/COTECC Caribbean Training Camp will once again be scheduled to take place between August and September; the venue will be announced soon. For more information on ITF organised training camps, please click here.
I would like to thank the nations who submitted a 5 Year Development Plan to be in effect by 1st January 2007. I would like to once again remind nations who have not yet submitted a 5 Year Development Plan to please do so as soon as possible in order to receive further ITF assistance in 2007.
The 15th Worldwide Coaches Conference is scheduled to take place at the Hotel Resort Casino Yacht & Golf Club in Asuncion, Paraguay from 22 - 28 October 2007. I would like to encourage coaches to attend the Conference; it would be a great opportunity for coaches to receive information from inspiring speakers from around the world.
Coaches Course
An ITF/OS Level 1 Coaches Course is scheduled to be held in Aruba from 14 22 May 2007. The course will be conducted by Mr. Richard Gonzalez of Uruguay.
Play Tennis Course
The Caribbean is beginning to understand the importance of the Play Tennis Course. The course is ideal for school teachers as an introduction to the STI Programme and young aspiring coaches as a pre Level 1. Four nations have been identified to organize a Play Tennis Course in 2007: BVI, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago. I would like to encourage more nations to explore this opportunity of having a Play Tennis Course. To know more, please click here.
The JTI Programme has been improving in the Caribbean. There are at present, 6 nations with ITF assisted programmes: Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Barbados, Grenada and Guyana who have successful Junior Tennis Initiative programmes which encompass both the School Tennis Initiative (STI) and the Performance Tennis Initiative (PTI).
The ITF continues to encourage member nations to start a JTI Programme which is in effect, a 14 & under Junior Development Programme. If the Caribbean is to continue to produce top players, we must strengthen the base and continue to create more opportunities for our best talented 12 & under players. I look forward to more nations starting a JTI programme.
To learn more about the programme please click here.
The EDP Programme continues to assist and encourage developing ITF member nations to have a JTI programme by providing free equipment to support the programme. 2007 shipments are currently being sent out. If you have not yet submitted your completed EDP questionnaires, then you should do so as soon as possible. Please remember that to be eligible to receive equipment assistance, then you should submit your 5 year plan. For more information on the EDP programme, please click here.
The International Tennis Number is a way to motivate players and to also encourage new players to the game. The introduction of the International Tennis Number (ITN) could be a great incentive for top players and recreational players, and coaches can use the ITN in their business to increase tennis participation at their tennis club or centre. I am encouraging Federations to explore this area. A little more emphasis on the ITN, participation will increase at all levels. Please visit www.itftennis.com/itn for more information.
Mr. Lambert was elected President of Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association at the Annual AGM which was held on the 24th January 2007.
Mr. Michael Cooper was elected President of Tennis Federation of Trinidad & Tobago (tennisTT) at the Annual AGM which was held on 1st April 2007.
St. Vincent will be organizing their first ITF Circuit in October 2007.
The Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago leg of the ITF Circuit which is usually held during Easter has been moved to the month of October 2007. This year there will be four legs in Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao, Barbados and St. Vincent from 1-28 October.
