The purpose of County training is to provide training for the best players in the county to represent the county in the two inter county Team competitions. This training focuses on playing matches in both singles and doubles. It also provides an additional opportunity for the top players in each age group attend an additional training session each week as part of their individual training plan. It is also seen as part of the LTA Player Pathway

We want to ensure that the way in which we select players to attend County training is objective and transparent so that players and parents know what they need to do to be invited. We also want players who will potentially represent the county in inter county competitions to have experience of playing regularly in tournaments and competitions.

For this reason, we use rankings points, which are gained through playing in tournaments as an objective measure for the top players in 11-18U age groups as the main criteria for selection, you can find out more about rankings and how to win points on the LTA website HERE.

It is therefore important that players who aspire to playing for the county compete regularly in tournaments to gain rankings points in order to eligible for selection and invitation to County Training. Leicestershire Tennis compete in two intercounty team competitions, 12 Counties event in Corby and in the LTA County Cup events. We believe that team competition in tennis, which is a very individual sport, is important for the following reasons:

• Playing as part of a team builds confidence and communication skills and is great fun!

• Supporting each other through the highs and lows of competition together helps to bring players together who might otherwise see themselves as opponents and teaches motivation and leadership

• Sharing the experience of competition can build friendships that last a lifetime

A player’s age group will be calculated based on their age on 31 December each year.

Selection will be based on a players Combined LTA age group ranking and will be taken from the end of the previous term. (For the Autumn term we will look at the first Friday after the Junior County Closed event) Players will be invited in ranking order until the session is full. Numbers will depend on the number of courts available. If, for example, a player is Ranked 1 in 14U but 7 in 18U, an invite to 18U will be offered. Age will also be taken into consideration for the 18U groups and older players may be invited before younger players rated above them if that older player is of an equal standard and more suited to playing in that group.

A player’s age group will be calculated based on their age on 31 December each year.

10U: Selection for Green County Training Squad will be based on recent form (recent competition results) and selection sessions to take place usually at the beginning of each term. These will be open to all players in the county by Club Coach nominations.

9U: Selection for Orange County Training Squad will be based on recent form (recent competition results) and selection sessions to take place usually the beginning of each term. These will be open to all players in the county by Club Coach nomination.

Selection will be based either on selection sessions to take place usually towards at the beginning of each term. These will be open to all players in the county by Club Coach nominations.