Player Pathway
Learn more about the support available from the LTA for professional players to take the next steps in their tennis careers. Take a look below to find out about each of the five stages of our Player Pathway and the different programmes that fall under these five stages.
The first stage of our player pathway; the Regional Performance stage is for the 10U age group.
The aim of the Regional Performance stage is to increase the number of nationally relevant players at 10U with the potential to become internationally relevant and transition to the National Performance Stage. The Regional Performance Stage comprises of the following:
LTA Delivered
- Regional Performance Camps
- Inter-regional Performance Camps
- National Camps
- Offical Trips & Experiences
LTA Supported
- County Training
- 10U Performance Programmes
Regional Performance Camps
Ages: Usually 7-10
Regional Performance Camps offer invitational sessions led by 10U National Pathway Coaches for high potential 8U, 9U and 10U players. Players can be nominated by the County Associations and the programme is delivered regionally up to three times per year. Players invited to these sessions will have the opportunity to be included on the RPDC Long List.
Inter-regional Performance Camps
Ages: Usually 8-10
Inter-Regional Camps are invitational camps for high potential players aged 9-10 years old. The programme is delivered up to three times per year and delivered by the team of 10U National Pathway Coaches. Camps progress from one to two-day camps.
National Camps
Ages: Usually 9-10
National Camps are invitational two-day camps for high potential players aged 9-10 years old. The programme is delivered up to two times per year, are residential, and delivered by the 11U/10U Girls National Age Group Captain and the team of 10U National Pathway Coaches.
County Training
Ages: Usually 7-10
County Training is organised practice sessions held and run by each tennis county to provide regular opportunities for the best players in the county to train and compete with one another. Counties also use County Training squads for selections for County Cup competitions.
10U Performance Programmes
Ages: Usually 7-10
A network of 10U Performance Programmes across Great Britain that offer high quality, local daily training environments, for 10U players who wish to start the performance journey.
LTA Youth
The goal of LTA Youth is to help children get involved with tennis through an exciting programme of resources, lessons and events. LTA Youth initiaitives are an important route through which aspiring performance players can engage with the Player Pathway at the 10U Regional stage.
The National Performance stage of the pathway is for those aged 11-14 who compete regularly at a National level and in Tennis Europe events. The aim of this stage is to increase the amount of European competitive 14U players with the potential to transition strongly to the International Junior stage. The National Performance stage comprises of the following:
LTA Delivered
- National Age Group Programme
- National Activity
- International Activity
LTA Supported
- Regional Player Development Centres
- National Academies
National Age Group Programme
Ages: 10-14
Supports the development of those 14U players with the highest potential for interantional junior success and selection for the National Academies or the LTA's Men's and Women's Programme (MWP).
National Performance Activity
Ages: Usually 10-14
National Performance Activity is accessible to both our scholars and players who sit outside our network and is made up of International and National activity.
Regional Player Development Centres
Ages: 10-14
Provide high quality individual and squad training, coach support at domestic and international events, and complimentary strength and conditioning support for 14U players who aspire to compete internationally. Players on the National Pathway List who attend an RPDC can benefit from subsidised coaching support and training sessions.
National Academies
Ages: Usually 13-18
Offers a full-time pro-style training experience to players aiming to become elite level tour professionals. Support includes world-class coaching, performance and health support, tournament and overseas camp explosure as well as a high quality player welfare and education experience that caters to the needs of an aspiring pro player.
The International Junior stage of the Player Pathway supports our highest potential juniors to become internationally competitive by 18 and well prepared to graduate onto the Pro Transition stage of the Player Pathway. The International Junior stage comprises of the following:
LTA Delivered
- Pro Scholarship Programme
- Mens and Womens Programme
- National Age Group Programme U16
LTA Supported
- National Academies
Pro Scholarship Programme presented by Lexus
Ages: Usually 16-24
The Pro Scholarship Programme (PSP) is the highest level of support offered to developing players by the LTA. It is usually offered to players aged between 16 and 24 with the best chance of reaching the ATP/WTA top 100 singles within five years.
Men's & Women's Programme
Ages: Usually 14-22
The Men’s & Women’s programme is for the very best 16 to 21 year old players in the country who are not currently on the PSP. Support is individually tailored to the player with support and services both at the NTC and on the road.
National Academies
Ages: Usually 13-18
The National Academies offer a full-time pro-style training experience to players aiming to become elite level tour professionals. Support includes world-class coaching, performance and health support, tournament and overseas camp explosure as well as a high quality player welfare and education experience that caters to the needs of an aspiring pro player.
National Age Group Programme U16
Ages: Usually 14-16
A programme of support for selected players aged 14–16 who are not attending a National Academy. Support includes scholarship funding for selected players; access to the NTC facilities and services; and a range of camp and trip support.
The Pro Transition stage of our Player Pathway supports our highest potential young players to become elite level professionals and Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup squad members. Find out more about the different programmes that fall under the Pro Transition stage:
Pro Scholarship Programme presented by Lexus
Ages: Usually 16-24
Offers support across a range of areas such as: Scholarship funding for selected players; access to the NTC facilities and performance support/services for selected players; National Coach support; LTA official trips; overseas tournament grants; training camps and an extensive domestic competition calendar of tournaments.
Men's & Women's Programme
Ages: Usually 14-22
Provides individually tailored performance support and services both at the NTC and on the road as well as access to a financial grant to enable a personal coaching team to be employed.
Men's Team NCAA Support
Ages: Usually 18-24
A programme of support for high potential 18+ players based within the NCAA tennis system. The support includes dedicated LTA National Coaches responsible for providing support on training, development and tournament scheduling.
The Pro stage of our Player Pathway supports our top British professional players to perform at the elite level and as part of Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup squads with excellence. Find out more about the different programmes that fall under the Pro stage:
Elite
No age criteria
Provides the highest level of performance support and services for players ranked top 100 singles or top 30 doubles on ATP/WTA, that adds value to their own personlised coaching teams. Support includes facilitation and/or delivery of a range of Sports Science & Medicine services both at the NTC and at selected major events, world-class Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic team member experiences and a world leading doubles programme. Interim tennis coaching solutions from LTA National Coaches can also be provided.
NTC Pro Access
No age criteria
Provides enhanced access to NTC based tennis and LTA performance support/services for players who are not on PSP/MWP scholarships, but who are or have the most potential to reach top 250 ATP/WTA singles ranking or are currently top 75 ATP/WTA doubles ranking. Players can also benefit from our domestic competition calendar of Pro and Prize money tournaments and a Tournament Bonus Scheme.
NTC Top 25 Access
No age criteria
Access to the NTC courts and facilities for the top 25 ranked British male and female players on ATP/WTA rankings (that are not on any assigned programme of support). Players can also benefit from our domestic competition calendar of Pro and Prize money tournaments and a Tournament Bonus Scheme.
Doubles Programme
No age criteria
Opportunity for British male and female tennis players to develop a professional career in doubles. Players are afforded supervised programmes at the NTC, with access to courts, facilities and further medical support to improve performance.