Making Tennis More Inclusive: The Story of Young Champs and Their Mission to Provide Accessible Coaching

Young Champs: Making Tennis Accessible to All

Chris Marshall, the co-founder of the new tennis charity Young Champs, is on a mission to make tennis more accessible to talented youngsters from all backgrounds. Growing up in a working-class family in Bradford, Marshall had to give up playing tennis as a child due to financial constraints. Determined to ensure that others don’t face the same obstacles, he established G Tennis, a social initiative providing free and affordable coaching to everyone.

Now, with the launch of Young Champs, Marshall is calling on clubs across the country to provide 10,000 hours of free coaching through the ‘Project 10K’ initiative. The goal is to create a pathway for children from lower-income families to pursue their tennis dreams without financial barriers.

Tennis has long been seen as a middle-class sport, with the cost of equipment, court fees, and coaching proving prohibitive for many. Marshall’s efforts to make tennis more inclusive have been met with support from local businesses and individuals, as well as a racquet recycle scheme to provide second-hand equipment to young players.

The success stories are already emerging, with children like Sabine benefiting from thousands of pounds worth of free coaching and making strides in their tennis journey. Young Champs aims to provide not only a pathway to a playing career but also to coaching, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to excel in the sport.

As British tennis enjoys a period of optimism with stars like Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray leading the way, initiatives like Young Champs are paving the path for the next generation of tennis stars. With efforts to make tennis more accessible and affordable, the future of the sport looks brighter and more inclusive than ever before.