Tennis ACT

National Academy Canberra

The National Academy Canberra commenced at the start of Term 3, 2006. Over the past 4.5 years the academy has provided the elite juniors of the ACT an intensive training environment designed to develop their games to the highest level. Our primary focus is to develop athletes between the ages of 11 and 18 into full and partial scholarship holders who can then progress in to the AIS Tennis Program and/or go on to become successful professional players.

Objectives

1. To create a training environment that will greatly enhance the development of ACT’s elite junior tennis players.
2. To convert athletes in the 10-16yrs age bracket into full and partial scholarship holders according to criteria laid out by Tennis Australia. To transition these athletes into the AIS Pro Tour Program (17^th, 18^th and 19^th years)
3. To give our athletes a sound technical, physical, tactical and mental base which will give them the opportunity to be successful at the highest level of tennis.

Structure

The National Academy Canberra consists of athletes who met criteria to gain a scholarship (listed below). Athletes must be at a minimum in their 12^th year (by calendar year) and no older than their 18th year to gain a scholarship.

What is provided to the athlete (12^th, 13^th and 14^th years)

The aim to offer a subsidised training program that includes:

• Fitness sessions – (minimum 3 per week)
• Free access to courts for additional training at Lyneham  when members not using them and not under lights.
• Minimum of 3 squad training sessions per week
• Minimum of 1 x private lesson per week.
• On the road coaching support at all National Junior Titles and ACT events  providing there are 4 or more ACT athletes playing
• Scheduling and planning advice
• Access to the AMS (Athlete Management System)
• Free medical screening
• Free sports psych appointment (and subsidised rates to follow up)
• Free and subsidised physiotherapy sessions
• Access to the National Academies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide
• Training camps during school holidays (when appropriate)

All this is provided to the athlete at a cost of $1450 per school term. This rate is reduced if athletes meet the “National Scholarship Criteria” which can be viewed on the www.tennis.com.au website.

Athletes from National Academy Canberra have had some great results over the years, some of these are:

Todd Volmari (born 93)

• R/U of the 14/U Nationals in Brisbane and Mildura
• R/U of the 16/U Nationals in Sydney
• R/U of the 16/U Nationals in Melbourne
• Represented Australia in Europe on a 16/U Tour and was a member of the Australian Junior Davis Cup team in 2009
• Reached No.2 in Australia in his age group on the Australian Rankings

Alex Nancarrow (currently at an Academy in Spain, born 93))

• Won the 14/U National Titles in September 07
• Won the 12/U National Titles in July 06
• Was ranked No.1 in Australia for her birth year (93) during 2009.
• Was a member of the Australian Junior Fed Cup team in 2009 and travelled to Mexico for the world group finals.
• Qualified for the Australian Open Junior event in 2010

Alex narrowly missed out on an AIS scholarship, and will be travelling to Europe to play on the professional tour, based at Barcelona, in February 2010.

Nick Kyrgios (born 95)

• Ranked No.1 in Australia in his age group
• Ranked No.98 in the world on ITF rankings (18/U)
• Runner up at 16/U nationals (twice in 2010)
• 3^rd round of the Australian Open Juniors (2011)
• Winner of the 12/U Nationals in Gosford, Jan 08
• Winner of the 12/U Nationals in Brisbane, July 07
• finalist of several 14/u National Titles
• Represented Australia as the No.2 player at the 14/U World Youth Cup in Europe (team finished in 6^th position)

James Frawley (born 94)

• Ranked No.4 in Australia on ITF junior rankings for birth year (94)
• Optus Junior Tour title holder
• Quarter finalist at 14/U and 16/U National titles
• Ranked 220 on ITF Junior rankings

Ryan Frawley (born 96)

• Ranked No.8 in Australia in his birth year
• Recently finished in 9^th place at the 2009 December 14/U National Titles

Grace O’Rourke (former scholarship holder)

• Was Ranked No. 10 in Australia in her age group
• Winner of 2 Optus Junior Tour Titles
• Quarter-finalist of the 14/U Nationals in Mildura
• Semi finalist at the 14/U Nationals in Perth in 2009

Andrew Zedde (born 94)

• Currently ranked No.15 in birth year in Australia on AR rankings
• Quarter- finalist of 14/U Nationals 2009
• Quarter –finalist of 16/U Nationals in 2011

Jake Wynan (born 94)

• Currently ranked No.7 in birth year in Australia on AR rankings
• Twice quarter-finalist of 14/U Nationals
• Quarter-finalist of 16/U Nationals (2011)

Ashley Keir (born 94)

• Currently ranked No.9 in Australia in birth year
• Many outstanding results over the past 12 months in AMT events.

 
CRITERIA TO GAIN A SCHOLARSHIP from June 1, 2011

Criteria to gain a scholarship is below. At a minimum, you must be in your 12^th year (turning 12 in that calendar year) to gain a scholarship. This has changed (from 11^th year) previously. If you are in your 11^th year you must meet the National Criteria (on the TA website) to gain a scholarship.

National Academy Canberra – Associate Scholarship Holder

Criteria for players born in 1999 (turning 12 during 2011). You must meet the following participation criteria.  

Participation
Competed in at least 2 National Championships in the past 12 months (Mildura, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne Nationals). YOU NOW MUST GAIN DIRECT ENTRY into the main draw of the tournament. If you require a wildcard into the Nationals, this will NOT be counted towards criteria unless you reach the 3^rd round of the main draw singles. 

As well as:
-       Sign an Athlete Agreement Form
-       Be available to represent ACT in National Teams Events 

Criteria for players born in 1998 (turning 13 during 2011 ). You must meet both of the following participation and ranking criteria

Participation
You must have competed in at least 2 National Championships in the past 12 months. YOU NOW MUST GAIN DIRECT ENTRY into the main draw of the tournament. If you require a wildcard the Nationals will NOT be counted towards criteria unless you reach the 3^rd round of the main draw singles. 

As well as:
-       Sign an Athlete Agreement Form
-       Be available to represent ACT in National Teams Events
Criteria for players born in 1997 (turning 14 during 2011). You must meet 2 out of the 3 following participation, ranking and result criteria. 

Participation
Participated in 2 National Championships in the past 12 months. YOU NOW MUST GAIN DIRECT ENTRY into the main draw of the tournament. If you require a wildcard the Nationals will NOT be counted towards criteria unless you reach the 3^rd round of the main draw singles. 

Ranking
Be ranked inside the top 25 in Australia amongst players born in this birth year. 

Result
Reached the quarter finals of 1 National Championships within the past 12 months.

Criteria for older athletes (benefits of scholarship are different):

Criteria for players born in 1996 (turning 15 during 2010). You must meet 2 out of the 3 following participation, ranking and result criteria 

Participation
Participated in 2 National Championships in the past 12 months 

Ranking
Be ranked inside the top 20 players in Australia in your year of birth 

Result
Have made the quarter-finals of 1 National Championships in the past 12 months
 

Criteria for players born in 1995 (turning 16 during 2011). You must meet 2 out of the 3 following participation, ranking and result criteria 

Participation
Participated in 2 National Championships in the past 12 months. 

Ranking
Be ranked inside the top 15 in Australia in your year of birth

Result
Made the quarter-finals of 1 National Championships in the past 12 months

Players in their 17^th and 18^th years – Players in these birth years will be assessed via there commitment to tennis and their overall standard of tennis. In general players must be 100% committed to their tennis and be highly competitive at a National Level. This is determined by Todd Larkham and staff of Tennis Australia

Tennis ACT and Tennis Australia reserve the right to offer athletes who do not meet scholarship criteria a wildcard scholarship. In general this will only be offered for younger athletes (11^th and 12^thyears) who we believe have the potential to be elite junior players, however may be offered to older athletes who have not continued to meet the criteria for a short period of time.This decision will be made by the academy Head Coach (Todd Larkham) and the Tennis ACT CEO (Ross Triffitt) along with Director of the National Academies at Tennis Australia (Geoff Quinlan).