By Alys Jones
The award-winning Rhiwbina Tennis Club is one of the most successful in Wales, with 340 members, 40 competitive teams and an ITF world-ranking tournament every September.
Rhiwbina Tennis Club was established in the early 1900s, meaning that tennis has been played there for over 100 years. The club has grown considerably in the past decade alone, when it had only 1 coach and 6 weekly sessions, and now runs 40 group coaching sessions every week.
Amongst these successes are Tennis Leaders courses, which have been developed to encourage young people to get involved with tennis volunteering.
Head Coach Tom James, who has trained over 100 Tennis Leaders across South Wales over the past ten years, says: “The Tennis Leaders course provides young enthusiastic players with an opportunity to work part time at a professional club.”
Aimed at older juniors who wish to begin their tennis career by working part-time their local club, Tennis Leaders courses allow them to become qualified LTA Tennis Leaders.
Rhiwbina Tennis Club has trained over 15 teenagers as Tennis Leaders this year, many of which now help out by working at the club. This Saturday, April 14th, the club is running an Open Day, with free tennis coaching, fun tournaments and games and a club membership introduction. This free event is open to all, and is a great opportunity to get involved.