Tennis festivals serve up lots of fun

The South Cambs School Sports Partnership has recently hosted several tennis festivals in partnership with Game Set Tennis and head coach Toby Jackson who runs the coaching programmes at Cambourne and Cottenham Tennis Clubs which were venues for two of the events with another festival held at Melbourn Sports Centre.

Groups of Year 3/4 children from 21 different schools took part in the festivals which were aimed at children new to the game of tennis and part of the LTA Youth Schools programme which aims to get children aged 4-18 involved in tennis.

Sport leaders from Cottenham, Cambourne and Melbourn Village Colleges provided the workforce for the events leading the 8 different activity stations that the children rotated around with fun games such as coconut shy, target tennis, bounce about and fast forehands for the 200 plus children to enjoy.

Claire McDonnell, organiser of the events said “The focus was very much on providing a fun and enjoyable event for the children whilst helping them to develop their physical skills and just as importantly, if not more importantly boosting their confidence and providing them with a really positive experience. I think from the feedback we got form the teachers and children we managed to do just that.”

Following the event children said how they felt ‘really proud of themselves’, loved being able to achieve in every activity and how they liked ‘learning new skills and having fun’

Whilst staff commented on how the event had ‘made the children feel positive about themselves’,  ‘given them a massive confidence boost’ and made them feel ‘happy and proud’.

For any children or parents wanting to play more tennis check out the programmes being offered by Game Set Tennis www.gamesettennis.co.uk or find your local court here https://www.cambslta.org.uk/get-on-court/cambs-venues/