In an effort to increase both the number and quality of young players playing the game of Tennis, Tennis Canada has developed a recruitment, motor skills, and tennis development program that are intended primarily for children 5 to 7 years of age.
This pilot project is currently offered at a limited number of tennis clubs across the country. However, if successful, this system will become the cornerstone of our process of identifying talent. Preliminary data collected last year in Quebec and Ontario indicate that this system has already shown promising results.
This first part of this program (an Open Door or Skills Day) involves administering a battery of 13 tests that measure gross motor skills (GMS).
What are gross motor skills (GMS)?
GMS represent the child's ability to perform movements with skill, precision, speed and ease. They generally are grouped into five determinants:
- Balance
- Segmental Speed (arm, leg)
- Coordination
- Agility
- Speed of Reaction
This specific battery of tests has been designed by a team of Canadian researchers who have measured more than 3000 children among the general population. These protocols are also being implemented in more than 900 schools in the province of Quebec by a group called RSEQ.
Why measure GMS?
GMS are directly linked with the ability to perform activities of daily living. Unlike the physical conditioning, which can significantly improve throughout one’s life GMS develop mainly during the ages of 5 to 13 years. It is therefore important to ensure that this critical foundation (the “engine” so to speak) which drives physical literacy is properly acquired before the child enters into adulthood. We have found that most “athletes” show a much higher “driving” capacity than the average child, at a very young age. This is why Tennis Canada has chosen to initially select children on this basis, rather than on parameters of physical fitness tests, as it is these competencies that will help them later in the process of “athlete” development.
Must I know how to play tennis to participate in the Open Door/Skills Day?
It is not necessary to play tennis to participate in this event! The idea is to identify children who demonstrate a high level of motor skill development that has comes naturally (through the participation of many sports).
What are the criteria for selection?
Each child will achieve a percentile score for either 10 or 13 tests of the motor skills protocol according to age. The children who achieve the highest scores overall will receive an invitation to join this select group. We are ideally looking for children who score near the 70th percentile or higher.
A sample of the individual player “profile” we are able to generate using our LMS High Performance database is as follows (these profiles are available to members of our high performance staff only).
What happens if my child is selected?
If your child is selected, we will invite them to join a special program called "Petits As National Bank, in Quebec)" or “Little Aces” (in the rest of the country) which is the responsibility of Tennis Canada and the local tennis club in your area. The majority of costs associated with these guidelines will be covered by Tennis Canada.
The young people identified as "Petits As National Bank or Little Aces" are invited to attend a program of 60 hours during which they develop their physical, athletic and tennis skills under the supervision of experts who conduct regular follow-ups with them. Know that the cost to be part of the team and enjoy all these benefits is minimal, at a rate of $5 an hour.
Your child will be supervised by a team of top coaches. The team of coaches are the responsibility of Ms. Debbie Kirkwood, Director of Tennis Development at Tennis Canada, Bob Brett (Tennis Canada’s High Performance Consultant) an individual who has coached some of the world’s top professional players, and Andre Labelle Tennis Canada’s Head U12 National Coach.
Moreover, if chosen each child will be supplied with a new Wilson racket and tennis ball free of charge!
Number of children to be selected:
Between 8 and 12 players per club will be identified and selected from the children participating in the Open Door/ Skills Day.
Notification Timeframe:
Approximately 7 to 10 days after the conclusion of the Open Door/Skills Day you will be notified if your child has been selected to participate in Tennis Canada’s program or invited to participate in the club’s RED Court program.
What are the end goals of this program?
Initially, Tennis Canada wants to develop a critical mass of players (the base), thus increasing the likelihood of encountering individuals with extraordinary potential. Then, by providing high-calibre coaching we believe we can increase the number of players who will join the global elite. Tennis Canada hopes that this country will be among the leading tennis nations in the next few years.
