Programme information and education partners

How the programme works

The Team Bath core training programme runs for 38 weeks per year, from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm. In addition to this our coaches travel extensively, both abroad and in the UK, to watch players compete. Training is also provided outside these core times in preparation for priority tournaments.

All performance programme players receive a weekly training schedule with a combination of individual, group and strength and conditioning work. The amount will vary from week to week based on the player’s needs and school timetable (if applicable).

• Elite 11s: Tennis and strength and conditioning training for one-and-a-half or two hours per day across four or five days each week, based on age.
• Junior Performance Academy: Tennis and strength and conditioning training for between three to five hours per day, five days a week.
• Touring pros: Touring professionals have bespoke programmes using Bath as their training and preparation base.
• Access as a part-time player: Team Bath can work with players on a part-time basis, to complement their home training programmes.

Who the programmes are open to

Team Bath has players from mini red-age through to Grand Slam competitors.

• Elite 11s: Up to 11 years old
• Junior Performance Academy (with or without education): 12-21 years old
• Touring pro: 16+ years old

Tournaments

Coaches devise a tournament plan with each player which is monitored and reviewed continually. Very often coaches will watch or even pastorally manage the players at events. Team Bath coaches spend more than 400 combined days a year at tournaments working with our players.

Joining a Team Bath Tennis programme

All players will have to fit into existing training groups. As a guide, players should be competing (at a minimum) in Grade 3 national domestic events. Player need to attend a trial at Bath to be assessed for if and how we can work with them.

Team Bath Tennis expect players who wish to join to have the ambition to try to become professional tour players. We do not expect all players to achieve this. We will commit to helping players who are fully committed to training and competition.

Education partners

Team Bath Tennis has long-standing links with three leading schools, both state and independent, all situated within a couple of miles of the University of Bath. The schools are focused on providing support to the athletes whilst equipping them with GCSEs and A Levels within a strong mainstream academic experience.

Established systems are in place to provide support to performance players. Players receive up to 20 hours of training per week. These include:

• Academic mentors within school
• Supervised study periods
• Reduced GCSE and A Level curriculum
• Authorised absence for tournaments

Schools:

The independent boarding schools accept both day and boarding students. They can offer bursaries for those players that the academy endorses. For general information about all the schools please see their websites above.

Team Bath Tennis and the schools devise a fixed weekly training and education timetable for each player to follow. The academy transports the players between school and tennis sessions each day. Tennis players are expected to achieve on both fronts. Some Players prefer the enhanced flexibility that distance learning can provide. Education provision is a choice the player and parents must make together based on individual circumstances. We do not have any links with any provider.

Bath is one of the UK’s leading universities. Performance players can combine their tennis within our Academy whilst studying for a degree. For further information of courses go to:

www.bath.ac.uk/study/

Accommodation

Accommodation options for players include relocation, private rental, boarding houses (for those who attend independent schools) and host families. All our host families are CRB-checked and most have previous experience of hosting tennis players from our academy. Our host families are sourced through our links with the schools and university sports community, not the public at large. Most host families have their own children of a similar age.