MTF embark on programme to attract youngsters to their fold

This week, the Malta Tennis Federation (MTF) launched the Tennis 10s programme in an activity that coincided with the visit of ITF and Tennis Europe Development Officer Hrvoje Zmajic.

Zmajic, who has been coaching at junior levels for over 25 years now, met with his MTF counter-parts during his stay here.

He also held talks with the Tennis 10s sub-committee, club representatives and coaches.

Through Tennis 10s, young hopefuls do not practise and play with regular yellow balls on a full court but instead compete with a red, orange or green ball on a court of lesser dimensions.

The newly-appointed MTF Tennis 10s programme coordinator, Claire Arrigo, said the aim of im-plementing such programme here is to get more children into the game and retain them for the longest time possible.

“The key objective of the programme is to attract children at a young age,” she said.

“We need a holistic approach to the development of tennis where children have fun while enjoying their favourite sport.”

A key component of the programme in the next 12 months is the organisation of MTF-led non-competitive festivals in different venues in Malta.

A tentative schedule of 12 such festivals this year has been set with the launch event taking place at the Marsa Sports Club in April.

The MTF said the success of Tennis10s in Malta will depend on the application of the pro-gramme’s principles by coaches at different schools and clubs across the islands.

To this end, the MTF has also initiated a five-star coaching programme where coaches will have access to ITF Tennis experts in the field.

This programme will run over five workshops in 2012.

In a statement this week, David Farrugia Sacco, the MTF presi-dent, said that the Tennis10s project will boost the number of junior players practising the sport on our shore.

He also thanked Gasan Mamo, the partners of the federation in promoting the sport, for their contribution and assistance to the tennis organisation.