COUNTY TRAINING

County Sift Days are held early in September and are an important part of the selection criteria for being invited to County Training.

All club coaches across the county are contacted and asked to nominate their most promising players.

There will be a series of physical and tennis exercises, as well as match play. There will be a separate session for the different year groups on the day with each session lasting approximately 1hr 30 mins - 2 hrs.

What are the aims of the County Sift Day?

• To allow the County Captains and the County Junior Performance Coordinator to gain a good overview of emerging players at county level including where they train and who coaches them.

• Provide a fun and enjoyable session for the children.

• Provide parents with information and advice for players at the early stage of their tennis pathway.

• Ensure the better players are moving effectively through the pathway in areas of competition, training, and coaching.

• Select players to attend upcoming County Training camps.

U7 / U8

There are 2-3 FUNDAYS throughout the year for 7&U players (January, April/May).  The sessions are run by our county 8&U coaches Neale Proud and Ben McCrory and it is a great opportunity to spend some time with the emerging younger players. 

The 8U and 7U sessions will be based around the 'LTA Talent Characteristics':

• Attacking Skills

• Athletic Skills 

• Rallying Qualities 

• Great Mover

• Defensive Qualities

• Inner Drive

• All Court Skills

• Competitive 

Talent Characteristics LTA Video

U9/U10

Players will be selected based on a mixture of the following factors:

• Invitation to the sift day from their club coach

• Attitude at sift day

• 8 Talent Characteristics (as above)

• Team player – treat teammates, challenges on court and coaches with respect

• Team player; players actions have a positive effect on the group

• Level of involvement within LTA pathway (National, Regional, County and Aspirantes Programmes)

• Performance in preceding County events/other external tournaments in singles and doubles.

• Attitude towards the Bucks values (Humility, Teamwork, Resilience)

• Commitment to a regular training and competitive programme

• Investment in future game development

The county squads are decided by the age group coach, the Bucks County Performance Officer, Junior team Co-ordinator and Admin Manager.

Players selected will receive an e-mail from the Bucks Admin Manager with the Bucks county training package attached (included: dates/times for training, venue, content covered in training sessions and information about county cup competition). Players will be expected to pay for their County Training in September to cover the costs of training venues and coaches.

Players will be selected based on a mixture of the following factors:

• Attitude and performance at sift day (U11 - U14)

• Player ranking (county and national)

• Player rating

• Level of involvement within LTA performance pathway (National, Regional, County)

• Performance in preceding County events/other external tournaments in singles and doubles.

• Attitude towards the Bucks values (Humility, Teamwork, Resilience)

• Commitment to a regular training and competitive programme

• Investment in future game development.

The county squads are decided by the age group coach, the Bucks County Performance Officer, Junior team Co-ordinator and Admin Manager.

Players selected will receive an e-mail from the Bucks Admin Manager with the Bucks county training package attached (included: dates/times for training, venue, content covered in training sessions and information about county cup competition). Players will be expected to pay for their County Training in September to cover the costs of training venues and coaches.