Ormskirk Tennis Club

Sunday Mini-Tennis/Full Tennis

For those juniors wishing to receive additional group coaching there are 6 weeks of training squads starting on Sunday 5th July 2009. Players of all abilities and ages are welcome and as per Friday junior tennis sessions players will be placed in groups based on age and ability. The times to attend are as follows:

9.20am to 10.05am - Mini Tennis Red
10.10am to 10.55am - Mini Tennis Orange
11.00am to 12.00am - Mini Tennis Green
12.05pm to 1.05pm - Full Tennis Improvers

The sessions cost £3 each and will be taken by coach Phil Thompson. If you would like any more information refer to the junior notice board or give James Mcloughlin or Rob Owens a call.

Family Nights

After the success of family nights in previous years the club has decided to continue to hold them throughout the 2009 season!

The events will consist of a family tennis tournament, BBQ & refreshments (the bar will be open for the adults!) and games for all to enjoy.

It doesn't matter if person you are bringing doesn't have a racket because the Club has spare rackets and will make them available for those without to borrow for the evening.

A nominal charge will be made to cover costs.

Family nights for 2009: Sat 16th May 6pm, Sat 13th June 6.30pm, Sat 22nd August 4.30pm

Ormskirk Tennis Club Tournaments

Once again our junior club tournaments will be running during the summer months culminating with Junior Finals Day to be held on Saturday 1st August 2009.

For details about what events are being run this year and to enter any of the listed events please look at the information of the Junior Notice Board and sign the relevant sheet(s) - Closing date for entry - Sunday 17th May 2009.

Competitive Play

For those juniors who enjoy competitive play against other clubs, Ormskirk Tennis Club will be entering several teams into the Southport & District Junior Tennis League this season.

To be considered for a place on any of these teams you must attend at least one of the match practice nights listed on the back page of this newsletter; if you are unable to attend any of the dates listed please Call Rob or James who will make alternative arrangements for you.

In addition to the league, the Southport and District Junior Tennis League also run a knockout tournament which all Ormskirk Tennis Club juniors will have the chance to enter.

Please check the junior notice board for regular updates on the Southport & District Junior Tennis League.

New Junior Ladder League

For those juniors (able to play full court tennis) wishing to play competitive singles tennis, ladder leagues (based on ability) will be set up at the start of the season.

See junior notice board for more details and to register your interest.

Fun Tournaments & Friendly Matches

Ormskirk Tennis club will be holding a series of fun tournaments during the 2009 season and in addition will be organising several friendly matches with other clubs.

The fun tournaments and friendly matches will be open to players of all abilities (who are able to play full court tennis) and not just those who are eligible for the teams.

So... if you would like to be involved make sure you look at the junior notice board for more details.

New OTC Junior Summer League

Ormskirk Tennis Club will be running an 'in-house' league, between those players who are eligible to play on a Sunday night, during the 2009 season.

Players will be split into mixed age and ability teams with matches being played on the all weather courts as part of the Sunday nights tennis programme.

Teams will be rotated 3 times throughout the season to give everyone a chance to play with different people.

If you are interested in participating you need to sign the relevant sheet on the junior tennis notice board.

Mini Tennis Tournaments

Ormskirk Tennis Club will be organising two mini tennis tournaments this season, specially adapted courts and official mini tennis balls will be used thereby ensuring competition is fair and fun!

The first of these competitions will be held in June and is aimed at those who are at the mini tennis green level.

Please see the junior notice board for more details.

LTA Ratings

You may or may not be aware that the Lawn Tennis Association offers Junior players the chance to be rated; ratings are determined by how many games you play and the result of those games, points can be gained from challenging someone who also has a rating or by entering an LTA recognised competition.

The Southport and District Junior League is an LTA recognised league and therefore those of you who are of a match standard, and who want to represent Ormskirk Tennis Club in the Southport and District League, must obtain a rating or you will not be able to play in the league.

To be awarded a rating you need to become a member of the LTA (membership is FREE), to do this you need to register on the LTA website.

Further information about ratings is also available on the LTA website.

We are always looking for club members or parents to help maintain a successful Junior Tennis set-up at Ormskirk. See what the Junior Tennis Committee do and how you can help.

Junior Club Night - Friday

New and Improved Friday nights will start on Friday 17th April this year and run every Friday until Friday August 28th.

There will be a £1 charge (to help cover costs) to members per week and non-members will be asked to pay £5 per session (relevant charge will be refundable on joining OTC).

Please note the following for which session you should attend:
4.00 - 4.40pm  Mini Tennis Red
4.45 - 5.25pm  Mini Tennis Orange
5.30 - 6.30pm  Mini Tennis Green
6.45 - 7.45pm  Full Court Tennis
7.50 - 8.50pm  Full Court Tennis - Team Players Only

For the first two weeks of 'Friday nights' please attend at whichever time is convenient and our Club Coach will advise everyone over these two weeks which session they should attend from week 3, at which point we would ask that you attend the stated session only.

All Friday nights are supervised and a qualified coach will lead each session. Friday nights have the aim of being fun group coaching sessions where we hope juniors will have the opportunity to improve their tennis whilst also enjoying themselves amongst friends.

Junior Mini-tennis courses

Mini-tennis is for children from the age of about 4 years to 11 years. It takes them through the learning stages of the game, whilst still providing the opportunity to play matches and competitions as they progress towards the full game.

It is a graduated learning process that is split into three colour codes:

RED is played on a small court (preferably indoors) about 12m x 6m with a foam ball and small strung rackets.
ORANGE is played on a tennis court with a baseline 9m from the net. A low compression ball is used.
GREEN is played on a full tennis court with a slightly slower ball.

The whole scheme is designed to make learning the game easier and fun.

Saturday mornings from 16th May 2009

Venue: The Ormskirk School - West Lancs
Fees: £21 per 6 week course - payable on 1st week

Courses will run in 6 week blocks and all groups will be limited to a maximum of 12 players. Please contact the Club coach if you wish to join.

You will be allocated a suitable group based on age and ability.

Mini-tennis accredited centre

Junior Sunday Night Tennis

Sunday night is also a Junior Night at the Club for those juniors who have, in previous seasons, played in a team or for those who would like to be considered for a place within one of our junior teams.

Sundays will run from March 8th until December 20th with juniors having the use of all courts between 6:00pm and 9.00 pm (subject to senior match replays).

Summer league matches and open play will be the main focus on a Sunday however during winter the timetable is subject to change.

Sunday nights are supervised and in order to cover costs of the floodlights, balls and refreshments etc., we ask that each junior pay £1 per week when attending.

ORMSKIRK TENNIS CLUB