A TENNIS-MAD coach from Redditch joined forces with local schoolchildren and one of the game’s famous faces in a bid to get more girls playing tennis.
Tina Manning and Judy Murray OBE were speaking on behalf of She Rallies – an organisation Murray founded with the Lawn Tennis Association and Tennis Scotland two years ago to retain and increase the number of female players and coaches across the UK.
The She Rallies event at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham featured more than 80 girls taking part in a range of tennis activities.
Meanwhile, 70 women trained to become She Rallies Activators – volunteers tasked with running community-based tennis programmes for girls – one of a number taking place across the country over the summer.
The events are part of a drive to recruit 2,500 women from a range of backgrounds to train as Activators over the next 12 months across the UK, with around 400 expected to come from the Midlands.
Murray, mother of Grand Slam-winning Andy and Jamie and founder of She Rallies in partnership with the LTA, said: “It’s been great to see the drive and enthusiasm of the new She Rallies Activators, who will go on to inspire more women and girls in the region to play tennis.
“It’s crucial to have positive female role models as coaches as this can help get more girls into the game. She Rallies is a fun and free way to start achieving this aim and we’re calling on women everywhere to join us.
“You don’t have to come from a tennis background, just be someone who is passionate about giving girls the opportunity to take part in the sport and all the fantastic benefits that can bring!”
Manning has only recently chosen to devote all her time to coaching having worked in the corporate world since university and became a She Rallies Activator last year.
She said: “Tennis has been part of my life for nearly 40 years so this is a way for me to finally give back to the game.
“It’s great to see kids running around and enjoying doing sport, so I’d encourage anyone to get involved as an Activator to encourage more women and girls into tennis.”
A number of local courses are taking place for women over the age of 16 to train as She Rallies Activators. To find out more and sign up for a course, visit sherallies.com/get-involved.
