Last month I went to the opening day of a refurbished public tennis facility. The sun was out and with just a slight wind, it was a cracking day for a quick knock about.

 

The town dignitaries and LTA, who played a role in funding the project, were out in force for the big reveal. On one of the new courts, a coach was trying her best to rally some interest from the surrounding park, giving out racquets and balls and inviting in potential young players, some of whom appeared to be day trippers outside of the facility’s catchment area.

 

Bookings for the new facility had opened on the same day. Of the three courts, two were occupied by players who had long become disillusioned by the mix of petty politics and oversized egos within the existing local club offer.

 

Low joining fees, coupled with the much-improved playing surface meant there was no need to preach to the already paid-up and converted here. Both sets played their advantage here – we’d shared information between ourselves on exactly when we thought the council would be opening the new courts so we could book ahead.

 

It was a glorious day for tennis. The warm weather had brought people to the park in their droves for the Saturday morning football and cricket club training sessions. The play park was thronging and there was already a queue at the café well before the 11am rush. Yet it appeared that few had known in advance about the new court opening with no easily visible signage encouraging people to have a go.

 

New public facilities, providing an affordable way to access sport, seem few and far between these days. They absolutely deserve to be celebrated.

 

But improved facilities won’t increase activity or participation unless they’re accompanied by campaigns to encourage and welcome people of all ages and abilities to take the first step of picking up a racquet and hitting a ball over the net.

 

Facilities are just the starting point to building communities through sport. The win only happens when people come together, whether they’re youngsters on the route to an elite career, rusty racquets re-discovering their serve, or a social game of doubles followed by a coffee. 

 

In time, I hope people will see others using the courts and want to have a go themselves. It’s great to finally have an affordable facility that people can use as much or as little as they want. The Open Day could have been a great opportunity to introduce both tennis and the new courts to potential members or casual players… but sadly, I have to call it ‘Out’.