GETTING A GRIP ON BRITAIN’S LOVE OF TENNIS
- 20 million racquets in homes across UK with 4 million gathering dust
- David Lloyd Leisure invites everyone to play tennis FREE
- Tennis star Greg Rusedski in schools coaching challenge
- Murray factor gets more people playing
As Wimbledon fever sweeps Britain once again, new research from David Lloyd Leisure shows that despite the nation’s passion for the annual tennis fortnight and 20 MILLION* racquets lying around homes across the UK, 4 million remain in cupboards unused - with one in ten (10%) not picked up in over five years, and 5% last dusted down over 20 years ago.
When it comes to watching tennis, the UK loves to get involved - with two thirds (64%) tuning in on TV - and a whopping 44% own a racquet ready to swing into action.
A good third (31%) of those surveyed by the UK’s leading tennis provider actually play the sport, with more than half saying it was fun (59%) and good for fitness (56%). However, nearly half (40%) said they never play at all and a third (28%) rarely get on court.
David Lloyd Leisure, Europe’s premier health, sport and leisure group, which is working to boost grassroots tennis participation across the country, commissioned the research to understand more about our love for the sport, and to uncover what motivates and inspires the UK to play tennis – as well as what might encourage more people to pick up a racquet**.
The last time many people played tennis was at school (32%), but a quarter of UK adults (26%) don’t play now as they have nobody to play with, and 16% say they don’t have anywhere to play. To help combat this, David Lloyd Leisure is offering free tennis coaching to everyone in June and July to help introduce the sport to all ages and abilities.
And while Andy Murray’s Championship win last year did help inspire 17% of people to try tennis with 19% planning to play more in the future, only 12% believed it would lead to more British champions within five years. Nearly a quarter (23%) said it would take at least five to ten years and over 40% were uncertain it would happen within the next decade or at all.
The biggest influences on getting children into sport are not sporting personalities, according to the survey, but parents at 36% (dads 28% and mums 8% combined) and schools (23%).
Challenge Greg
To help inspire children at the grassroots, David Lloyd Leisure teamed up with former British no.1 player Greg Rusedski to visit as many schools as possible on Friday 27th June and teach primary school children the basics of tennis.
In a race against time, Greg joined a team of expert coaches and raced around London visiting schools in all corners of the city.
Speaking about the importance of boosting grassroots tennis, Greg said: “This was such a unique challenge – I don’t think I’ve ever visited so many schools, or coached so many children, in one day before. It was brilliant to see such a wide range of ages and abilities all getting involved in tennis, and hopefully the David Lloyd Leisure coaches and I will have inspired a new generation to get on the courts.”
Group racquets manager at David Lloyd Leisure, David Bulgin, added: “It’s great to see the UK love for tennis over the Wimbledon fortnight every year, but we’re keen to show that tennis is a great sport for the whole family to play – and that they can have plenty of fun while keeping active and fit all year round. We urge everyone to dust off their racquets and join us on court this summer.
“With over 800 tennis courts across the UK, and nearly 500 of them indoor, we have a great set-up for anyone who would like to try tennis for free – just visit your local club for more information.”
Everyone for Tennis
David Lloyd Leisure racquets clubs are continuing to open their doors throughout July to all adults and children who want to take part in free, new ‘Everyone for Tennis’ sessions with its LTA-qualified coaches, which will be synchronised to allow the whole family to try tennis at the same time. The 45-minute sessions, which include expert feedback, will be complemented by a Racquets Welcome introduction to tennis and Fast Track Tennis coaching sessions for adult beginners.
The clubs are also hosting the Great British Tennis Weekends, in association with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), for all families to enjoy trying tennis, with the final weekend on 19-20 July.
For more information on how to get involved in ‘Everyone for Tennis’ visit http://www.davidlloyd.co.uk/latest-offer
-ENDS-
Note to editors: For images or further information, please contact the David Lloyd Leisure press office on 01707 289833/4.
*Based on 44% of UK adults having a tennis racquet and a UK adult population of 49,122,174 – ONS data 2010.
**Research was carried out among a representative sample of 2,000 UK adults by OnePoll between 18 – 19 June 2014.
About David Lloyd Leisure Group
The David Lloyd Leisure Group operates 81 clubs in the UK and a further 10 clubs across Europe, comprising David Lloyd Clubs , Harbour Clubs and Next Generation, plus the new high street concept, David Lloyd Studio, in Islington, Putney and Winchester. It has over 440,000 members and employs 6,000 people. This includes an expert health and fitness team of over 1,800, while it contracts the services of more than 400 tennis professionals. Across all clubs, David Lloyd Leisure has over 150 swimming pools (of which half are indoor) and offers over 10,000 exercise classes per week. Every week 20,000 children learn to swim at David Lloyd Leisure and 12,500 learn to play tennis. Its racquets facilities are unparalleled with 800 tennis courts as well as 180 badminton courts and 140 squash courts. Additional facilities include health and beauty spas, club lounges with free internet access, crèches, nurseries and specialist sports shops.
press@davidlloyd.co.uk
01707 289833/34
