20/05/2026
Last week coach Chris, the founder of Young Champs, was at the England Community Centre in Raynes Park delivering his ‘Changing the Game’ course. The day was about one thing: delivering high-quality tennis in non-traditional settings and more importantly, how we keep children engaged long-term.
As Chris prepares to deliver this course for the Level 5 Master Coach cohort at the National Tennis Centre this afternoon, he keeps coming back to one specific question:
What does “success” actually look like for “tennis opened up”?
The LTA’s vision of “tennis opened up” is one we can all get behind, but as we move forward, we have to look closely at the reality. While apps have successfully reduced ‘gatekeeping’ by making courts easier to find, data suggests that for families facing data poverty or lower digital confidence, a ‘digital-first’ approach can act as a barrier
“Changing the Game” is about ensuring that any child who picks up a racket today has the opportunity to progress and keep playing for years to come. At G Tennis & Young Champs, we have proven this is possible, keeping children from lower socio-economic groups thriving in the sport for over 8 years.
The question now is: Can we scale this approach to clubs and venues across the country?
