FIRST CLASS TENNIS PROGRAMME
Talented pupils at Stonyhurst College are able to rise through the ranks with a developing tennis programme featuring world class facilities. Photography: DocB Photography
The brand new state-of-the-art tennis dome at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall has provided the perfect platform on which to build a robust tennis programme that is seeing pupils’ sporting talents nurtured.
All children from the very youngest to Higher Line (Sixth Form) pupils at the College have access to the dome, which offers two Grand Slam size tennis courts, opened by former British number one tennis star Tim Henman OBE earlier this year.
For 10-year-old Noah Paterson and 12-year-old James Ashworth, the 1,375 sq metre Glassbrook Dome has enabled them to develop their tennis within the Stonyhurst tennis programme, under the expert coaching and guidance of professional tennis coach JJ García.
Noah, who has been at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall for a year, started playing tennis when he was just three years old and has gone on to train at the Bolton Arena Performance Academy, which has a junior tennis programme that starts youngsters off with mini tennis, graduating to a more robust training environment. The Stonyhurst tennis programme is developing on similar lines and will see pupils competing at the highest level.
Similarly James, who joined Stonyhurst SMH at the beginning of this year’s September term, began playing tennis when he was eight and he too attends the Bolton Performance Academy.
Under Stonyhurst’s developing tennis programme, Noah and James can now synchronise their tennis with academic life at SMH. The introduction of coach JJ García and the dome has meant that pupils who have a strong sporting aptitude for tennis, have the opportunity to follow a personalised tennis programme that will help them develop without any disruption or detriment to their academic progression.
James is able to leave school earlier than normal to attend coaching sessions at Bolton while both boys have extra coaching with JJ two or three times per week.
“While Noah and James have extra tennis lessons, they are still very much part of the normal school community at Stonyhurst and I think that is important,” explains JJ.
“As they progress I think it’s important to protect that, as tennis players can become easily isolated. We don’t want them to feel like they are being taken out of normal lessons, playing tennis when everyone else is doing something else. After all they are still children and they want to have some fun!”
“But like everything, it is a matter of time and effort, nothing comes without hard work and both boys realise this. I can see it in the way they are becoming more mature in their approach to tennis lessons and fitness.”
“All the sport they do here at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall improves their strength and co-ordination, and we are able to give them extra coaching in tennis by having a flexible approach.”
James agrees, adding: “I also do cross-country which helps with endurance during long matches as well as athletics, which helps speed on the tennis court.”
Noah, who also plays rugby, says: “For example the line runs in rugby increase fitness and improves reflexes which is also great for my tennis.”
JJ adds: “In terms of facilities, the dome is perfect – James came from a school that didn’t have a tennis court so to have this facility here at Stonyhurst is making a big difference to him.”
“Having said that, every single year group from Year 5 has access to tennis as part of the physical education programme and 100 per cent of pupils have access as part of the extra-curricular activities at Stonyhurst.”
“Many pupils who don’t excel or perform well at team sports have the option of tennis and the dome provides all year round facilities.”
The dome also provides the whole of the Stonyhurst community, including parents and friends, with the opportunity of playing tennis or having tennis lessons, through the Stonyhurst Tennis Programme as Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall headmaster, Ian Murphy, explains: “The Glassbrook Dome represents a huge and significant leap in terms of what we can offer here at Stonyhurst, not just for our pupils but for the wider community.
“For our pupils, participation in sport can help enhance academic performance and foster collaboration, self-confidence and leadership skills.”
JJ concludes: “I can’t tell you how much the timetable has altered since we got the dome. The response has been unbelievable!”
For more information about the tennis coaching programme and facilities at Stonyhurst, contact JJ García, Director of Tennis, email: tennis@stonyhurst.ac.uk
For court hire email: sportsclub@stonyhurst.ac.uk
