Writhlington tennis coach, Amanda Stonier, has been named Avon’s County Ambassador for Judy Murray’s ‘She Rallies’ campaign.
Launched in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), ‘She Rallies’ aims to grow the female tennis workforce and to attract and retain more women and girls in the sport.
Currently only 23% of tennis coaches are female, and playing figures are comparatively low, with twice as many boys than girls playing tennis aged nine to seventeen and girls comprising only 30% of British Tennis Membership aged eight and under.
The high-profile campaign kicked off in Birmingham on Friday, 3rd February, with a Female Coaches Conference and was followed by two days of workshops for the ‘She Rallies’ Ambassadors led by Judy Murray and her team.
As Avon’s ambassador, Stonier will lead free training sessions for existing female coaches and hopes to attract a legion of new volunteers
passionate about growing the game for girls. Coaches who attend the training will receive a ‘She Rallies’ equipment bag and will then be able to deliver the programme to girls across the county. The four key areas covered by the training are Lil Miss-Hits (for ages five to eight), tennis for teens, organising girl-only fun days and recreational competitions. Amanda Stonier said: “I’m really excited about being involved with She Rallies. I was inspired by the speakers at the launch conference and feel this is an area of tennis that has needed help, and a wonderful role model such as Judy Murray, for many years.”
Simon Johnson, LTA Head of Region, added: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Judy Murray. We would love to hear from any community groups and partners that would like to work with us to get more girls and women playing tennis in 2017. The more the merrier.”
Stonier is one of three ‘She Rallies’ Ambassadors in the South West, alongside Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Sarah Rutherford and Devon’s Laura James.
Stonier was previously Head of Tennis at Writhlington Leisure, stepping down last summer and continues to lead disability tennis sessions at Writhlington Tennis Centre.
If you are keen to get involved with growing the game for women and girls in the region, please get in touch at: [email protected]