Tips for small fry

Press, 28 March 1980, Page 26

Tips for small fry

By

JOHN BROOKS

A belief in the motto, “catch ’em young,” has prompted Canterbury’s two top ranked men’s tennis players, Michael ■ Mooney and Stephen Harley, to launch a coaching clinic for the small fry at Easter. Their classes will be designed for the nine to 13 -year olds, although they would like to spread their net wider and include potential players of more' tender years. “Overseas, youngsters get into tennis at the ages of seven or eight, and I feel that the earlier they start the greater the chance that their interest will be captured by the game,” Mooney said yesterday.

In their bid to stimulate interest in tennis among children, the two players have obtained sponsorship for the clinic from the Conley and Blyth Sports Centre and Spalding and will hold their classes at the Edgeware club’s courts from Good Friday until Easter Monday.

As well as fundamental coaching in strokes, the youngsters will learn how rackets are made, how to score a game, and many other facets of the sport. “We plan to hold a mini tournament at the end, even if the youngsters have to serve underarm,” Mooney . said. “That’s where the interest lies — when they start to compete.”

Harley and Mooney hope to attract about 50 or 60 children to their coaching venture. “We are looking for those who play a little tennis but have not jbined a club,” Mooney said. Overseas, rackets that are lighter and about 10cm shorter than the standard model are available to children. Harley and Mooney, who have seen them used on the Continent, look forward to the day when they are introduced to New Zealand.

“So many children, of necessity, have to start the game with their parents’ rackets,” Mooney said. “It is no wonder that they get into the habit of using two-handed shots.”.