Tennis on the up in Jamaica - Technical director Burke encouraged by performances of young players

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

NATIONAL TECHNICAL director of Tennis Jamaica Douglas Burke believes the game of tennis is coming along nicely in the local arena, and is encouraged by the performances of several young players in the recently concluded Alliance Investment Management 12 and Under All-Island tournament.

"Based on what I have seen, there is definitely an overall improvement in the level of play from the youngsters compared to previous years," Burke told The Gleaner at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre this week.

"This has been based on a conscious effort by us (Tennis Jamaica) to improve the level of coaches with a lot of progressive workshops, coaching seminars and the like. We are seeing the benefits of this and we will continue to focus in this area," he said.

The technique, knowledge of the game and, at times, jaw-dropping power generated from some tiny racquets held by children as young as eight, certainly seems to support Burke's point.

Lots of challenges

However, the director readily acknowledged the fact that there were still many challenges to be faced by the organisation.

Several coaches from the rural areas have constantly pointed out that their charges do not enjoy the benefits of the facilities of their Kingston counterparts, who are able to simply make use of home courts or drive to make use of the nearest club facilities.

In some instances, students are reported to have make do with makeshift courts drawn up with chalk around rugged asphalt areas with a rope used as a net.

"Playing facilities in some areas continue to be a major problem that we face, but to get around that we have looked to form alliances to ease that burden," Burke said.

"Partnerships formed with the surrounding communities and organisations like American Friends of Jamaica do a lot to develop the sport and keep it going," he said.

Coaching workshops

According to Burke, the partnerships often include not just monetary support, but the provision of equipment, the refurbishing of facilities and coaching aid. For instance, in Hanover, the local professionals at the Tryall resort collaborate with physical education teachers to put on coaching workshops.

In Kingston, coaching workshops are conducted at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre and students from St Hugh's, Mico Practising and John Mills take part.

However, while he is content to see a slight increase in the number of students taking part in the sport over the years, Burke was quick to point out that the focus was on quality and not quantity.

"One of the things that we have been trying to do is improve the quality of the game and not just the number of kids who play," he said.

"Our emphasis on coaching seminars and clinics is geared towards picking up the game in that regard, and we are simply not just content with playing the numbers game," he said.