GB National Tennis Academy Programme
Tennis Scotland is delighted to operate one of the National Academies at the University of Stirling.
The GB National Tennis Academy in Scotland is part of the LTA’s vision to make British tennis one of the most respected nations in the world for player development.
Tennis Scotland deliver the GB National Tennis Academy in partnership with the University of Stirling, the sportscotland institute of sport and Dollar Academy to provide a level of coaching and service provision which sets new standards within the sport and transforms the development of future professional British tennis champions.
The GB National Tennis Academy offers a full-time pro-style training experience to players aiming to become elite level tour professionals. Support includes world-class coaching, sport science and sport medicine support, tournament and overseas training camp exposure, as well as a high-quality education experience together with excellent pastoral and welfare support that caters to the needs of an aspiring pro player.
The National Academy is for players aged 13 to 18 (although some players may join from age 11 in exceptional circumstances).
The maximum number of players in each National Academy will be capped at 16, selecting Britain’s highest potential juniors.
Visit the PLAYER PATHWAY SECTION to find out more about National Academies and the pathway for aspiring young players.
The GB National Tennis Academy is an inspiring, holistic and highly transformative environment. The Head Coach is responsible for leading and establishing the culture across the programme as well as developing and delivering an inter-disciplinary, Individual Development Plan (IDP) for each player.
The IDP is created and delivered by coaches and practitioners across the programme and will be interdisciplinary; combining technical, tactical, athletic, psycho-social and lifestyle objectives. The IDP ensures the holistic development of each individual as both a player and a person is achieved and measured.
The GB National Tennis Academy delivers a pro-style, interdisciplinary training environment tailored to specifically prepare players for the demands of pro tennis.
The University of Stirling, Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, provides world class facilities, recently benefitting from a transformative £20m capital redevelopment offering the players a training environment where they have everything they need to succeed. However, facilities alone do not create an inspirational pro-style training environment and this needs to be cultivated by the staff and players involved.
To create the right training environment, the GB National Tennis Academy at Stirling is integrated with the Tennis Scotland National Player Programme (NPP) and the University of Stirling International Sports Scholarship Programme (ISSP) players and coaches to create a motivational atmosphere on the court. Off the court the players will be rubbing shoulders with elite athletes from a wide range of sports via the partnership with sportscotland institute of sport, for example, Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games medallists and European record holders.
High quality, best with best sparring will be one of the real strengths of the National Academy due to the integration of the ISSP and NPP players, together enhancing the training environment. The volume of quality squad training, match play and player led sessions will contain a mixture of the above players which will provide great variety and high-quality training for all.
The coaching and support team at the GB National Tennis Academy will adopt a holistic approach to player development:
- Develop players with ID
- Players from the Stirling will be recognised for the values they demonstrate rather than the tracksuit they wear
- Respectful, hard workers, team approach, open minded, integrity, tough competitors and passion for the game
- Independent players who problem solve and make decisions
- Matching their tennis game style to their physicality and personality
- Monitoring and tracking progress through IDPs embedded in tennis, science and medicine
- Committed to supporting and encouraging academic programmes
- Wider social development of young people
- Daily and weekly meetings to discuss player by player so the day-to-day activity links to the longer term IDP
- All staff making the commitment to the same process.