While developing tennis around the world is their mission, improving the lives of kids and coaches is the real victory for the ITF’s Development Officers.
On paper their job seems fairly simple: develop tennis, to produce more players, and better players. While locking up one trip after another in exotic sounding cities like Alexandria, Culcuta, Dushanbe, Pago Pago and Ulaanbaatar they have learned that the mission is anything but simple. The challenges are endless and vary in range from logistics to coordinating competitions and meeting with government ministers. Welcome to the ITF Development Officer team, an elite group of tennis professionals who both educate and inspire.
“The Development Officers are the eyes and ears of the ITF in over 140 nations,” says Dave Miley, Executive director of Development for the ITF. “They monitor programmes, identify talent and train local coaches. Without them we could not have the huge impact that we currently have on the game worldwide.”
“You face different challenges from different cultures and you often have to find creative ways to overcome those challenges,” says Anthony Jeremiah, Development Officer for the Caribbean. “This keeps you searching to find the best solution. And if the solution does not work for one nation it might for another.”
Hrvoje Zmajic, Development Officer for Europe, is approaching the border crossing between Armenia and Georgia. Anxiously he walks across a decaying wooden bridge. The immigrations office is housed in a rusty steel container. The officer-in-charge studies Zmajic closely without speaking while going through his tennis kit which is full of rackets, balls and equipment. “And then he asks me if I know Goran Ivanisevic,” recalls Zmajic. “I was shocked. So you can imagine just how far tennis has reached.”
“In this job of promoting tennis, awareness of priorities is a constant challenge,” continues Zmajic. “People in National Associations like the glamour of a Davis Cup tie, but some are not ready to invest sufficient resources in grass roots tennis programmes. However, having said that, Ukraine is a good example of what can happen when a National Association makes improving local and national coaching the focus. Three years ago they submitted a specific project for coaching education. The ITF supported it through various forms of assistance and grants. Today, they have over 190 coaches registered with the sports authority and the National Association. To do so much in less than three years is fantastic.”
At the Regional Tennis Centre (RTC) in Fiji a sign hangs on the back all. It reads, “The ITF house is the home of good people, good students and good athletes.” The words do not ring hollow and the results speak for themselves. In the past seven years, 17 of the 18 RTC student-athletes who have graduated from high school have gained US collegiate scholarships with many of them going on to represent Pacific Oceania in Davis Cup or Fed Cup. Considering that most of the players come from families that do not have university educations, this was an incredible success for the Development Officer for Pacific Oceania, Dan O’Connell.
“I would describe my job as being a teacher, friend and cheerleader to junior players, coaches and administrators,” says O’Connell. “In Pacific Oceania we all work together closely with the ‘let’s do it as a team’ attitude that has been the backbone of all of our work since the mid 90s.”
“I can still remember the day when he (O’Connell) came down to my country Vanuatu. He spotted me when I just lost a match and was pouring in tears,” remembers Andrew Mailtorok. “He came over and cheered me up and bought me a coke. I will always remember that day. Dan is a big influence in my life and in many other players’ and coaches’.”
Sonam Yangchen of Bhutan was identified by Suresh Menon, Development Officer for Asia, and included in the Performance Tennis Initiative (PTI) at the Bhutan Tennis Federation centre. She improved her tennis ability and was awarded a grant from the Grand Slam Development Fund (GSDF) to play internationally. Eventually she earned a scholarship to a US college where she played and graduated, and is now a member of parliament in Bhutan. Currently, she is involved in helping to promote tennis to Bhutan’s youth.
“Through the ITF/GSDF Pyramid of Opportunity a junior in an underdeveloped tennis nation can optimise their potential and achieve success,” says Menon. “In the end it’s not just all about being top-ranked professional players, and tennis provides them with opportunities and opens doors.”
While there are many examples like Sonam worldwide, there are also many players who were identified, selected and advised by Development Officers who would go on to earn a junior world No. 1 ranking and win professional titles.