This document outlines the selection criteria and process for Regional Training (RT) for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 August 2018.

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1 Regional Training Selection Criteria and Process 1. Introduction Regional Training is focused on providing exceptional training, learning and competition opportunities for junior players with the objective of supporting the development of players so that they fulfil the selection criteria for the National Age Group Programme (NAGP) and National Academies. This document outlines the selection criteria and process for Regional Training (RT) for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 August Tennis Scotland will join Regional Training in September Outline RT enables each region s best juniors to train together on a regular basis as well as providing inter region competitive opportunities. Further headline details of RT are given in table 1. Table 1: Regional Training Stage of pathway Objective Player selection Number of players National Performance Pathway Enable more players to meet the selection criteria for the NAGP and National Academies. From September 2018 these will be annual selections, with players selected by the U14 Regional and National Age Group Manager with the LTA Talent Team in each region. Up to 246 players nationally with places distributed proportionally according to rankings analysis (see below). Automatic selections (see below) are included in this number. 3. Eligibility RT is for players aged between 10 and 14 (on the 31 December 2018) who have lived in Great Britain continuously since 1 April Players who are under the age of 10 on 31 December 2018 will be considered for selection for RT provided that they fulfil the first automatic shortlisting criterion set out in section 5 below. Players will be eligible for selection for RT in the region in which they reside on the date of the selection meeting. In England, the five regions are made up of the following counties: North Northumberland, Cumbria, Durham and Cleveland, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Isle of Man. Midlands Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire. East Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Essex. South East Surrey, Middlesex, Sussex, Kent. South West Cornwall, Somerset, Devon, Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Channel Islands. Players living in South Wales will be eligible for selection to train in the South West RT (in England). Players residing in North Wales will be eligible for selection to train in the North RT (in 1 / 05/03/2018

2 England). Wales will compete as a region in inter regional competitions with players who are resident in Wales but training in the South West and North RT s being eligible for selection. Tennis Scotland will join Regional Training in September For the purposes of this policy a player may be deemed to reside in a region if they attend a residential school in a particular region. In exceptional circumstances the LTA may permit a player to attend RT in a region in which they do not reside if it deems this to be appropriate. If a player is selected for RT and subsequently moves to a different region following selection, they will automatically be permitted to attend the RT in such region. 4. Distribution of Regional Training places Regional distribution Each RT will have a minimum of 20 places so that each RT can fulfil its purpose of enabling each region s best juniors to train together on a regular basis as well as regions being able to field teams in inter region competitions. In addition, in order to ensure that the number of places in each RT reflects the distribution of players throughout the country we have analysed the number of top 200 nationally ranked players for the U12 and U14 age groups in each region over a five year period. The average number of players in the top 200 in each region over the previous five years is then used to calculate the maximum number of places available on RT in each region: Regional Training Percentage of players ranked in top 200 U12 and U14 age groups in last 5 years Maximum number of RT places South East 24% 60 East 21% 52 South West 16% 40 North 15% 38 Midlands 14% 34 Wales 4% 20* *The 20 places allocated to RT in Wales will be distributed geographically with players from South Wales training in the South West RT and those from North Wales training in the North RT. Gender distribution It is intended that the maximum number of places available in each RT consists of an equal 50/50 split between boys and girls. This is subject to there being enough players of each gender who fulfil the shortlisting criteria and are subsequently selected in accordance with the selection criteria. In the event that there are fewer players of a particular gender selected than places available, the remaining RT places may be taken up by the other gender if there is an oversupply of players of that gender fulfilling the selection criteria. 5. Shortlisting process Automatic shortlisting Each region will create a shortlist of players that will be taken to the RT Selection Panel. The following shortlisting criteria will be applied to determine which players will be automatically shortlisted and then considered for selection: 2 / 05/03/2018

3 For players aged up to 14 on the 31 December 2018 who have competed in the main draw of an LTA Winter National or Summer National Tour Grade 2 tournament between 1 September 2016 and 1 March 2018 (inclusive); or For players aged 10 on the 31 December 2018 who have been invited to a minimum of 2 Regional Training Camps between 1 September 2017 and 1 March 2018 (inclusive) (England and Wales). Players who meet the automatic shortlisting criteria will be notified that they have been shortlisted by the LTA. They must confirm via (stating their full name and date of birth) to the Talent Performance Manager (TPM) in their region that they would like to be considered for selection by 5pm on Friday 2 March. Discretionary shortlisting It is also recognised that there could be some outliers to the shortlisting criteria. To ensure our system reflects this, each region will be able to make the following number of discretionary nominations: Regional Training Discretionary Nominations South East 6 East 5 South West 4 North 4 Midlands 3 Wales 2 This represents 10% of the total RT places in each region. Each region can only make a maximum of 2 discretionary nominations in each of their four cohorts (U12 boy, U14 boys, U12 girls, U14 girls). In their nominations, the TPM of each region must present relevant evidence sources why the player has not achieved the shortlisting criteria. Relevant evidence sources may include: A recommendation from the player s county; Observation in either training or competition from a TPM and/or Regional Performance Coordinator. These nominations will be considered by the U14 Regional and National Age Group Programme Manager who will decide which (if any), discretionary nominees will be shortlisted based on the information supplied to them. Only players who are shortlisted will be notified of the outcome. Exceptional circumstances Long term illness/injury If a player has had a long term injury / illness (minimum of 3 months) between 1 September 2016 and the date of the selection meeting and does not meet the shortlisting criteria, they may apply to be considered for selection. They must contact the TPM in their region by 5pm on Friday 2 March to confirm that they would like to be considered for selection and provide: details of the injury including the full period missed; and medical / physio reports confirming the injury. 3 / 05/03/2018

4 The TPM and the U14 Regional and National Age Group Programme Manager will then consider the evidence and impact of the injury and decide whether in the absence of this factor they believe that the player would likely have met the shortlisting criteria. If that is deemed to be the case then the player will be shortlisted due to exceptional circumstances. If not, then they will be notified accordingly. Residence If a player moved to Great Britain after 1 April 2017 and does not therefore fulfil the eligibility criteria, they may apply to be considered for selection. They must contact the TPM in their region by 5pm on Friday 2 March to confirm that they would like to be considered for selection and provide: details of their tennis background prior to moving to Great Britain; and details of their tennis background since moving to Great Britain. The TPM and the U14 Regional and National Age Group Programme Manager will then consider the evidence and decide whether in the absence of this factor they believe that the player would likely have met the shortlisting criteria. If that is deemed to be the case then the player will be shortlisted due to exceptional circumstances. If not, then they will be notified accordingly. 6. Selection process Automatic selection NAGP Scholarships Players who were selected as NAGP Scholars in December 2017 are automatically selected for RT subject to them confirming they wish to take up their place. Automatic selection National Camps Players who have attended at least one LTA National Camp (U12 and U14) in the period from 1 September 2017 to 1 March 2018 are automatically selected for RT subject to them confirming they wish to take up their place. Players who are automatically selected for RT will be notified of such selection by the LTA. Each player must confirm via (stating their full name and date of birth) to their TPM that they would like to be included in RT by 5pm on Friday 2 March. Selection panel The RT selection panel will consist of the U14 Regional & National Age Group Programme Manager (chair) with each region s TPM and RPC. A member of the LTA s legal team may attend the meeting to advise on procedural issues and adherence to the policy but shall not have voting rights. A member of the LTA Performance Team may also be invited by the chair to attend and record selection decisions. The selection panels will meet during the week commencing 5 March Selection criteria - All applicants who have been shortlisted will be evaluated against the criteria outlined below. - The Game Development, Legs and Heart categories are worth two points, and the Head, Programme and Competitive Profile categories worth one point. 4 / 05/03/2018

5 COMPETETIVE PROFILE PROGRAMME HEAD HEART LEGS GAME DEVELOPMENT - Players who successfully score six points or more will be deemed to have met the selection criteria. - Where there are more players who meet the criteria than there are places available, players will be placed in rank order based on the number of points they have scored. - Where there is a tie, the U14 Regional and National Age Group Programme Manager will make the final decision based on who is most likely to reach the next stage of the pathway using the evidence available to them (this includes, amongst other things, match scouting reports, results profile and camp reports). Category Description Through their Player Development Plan, is the child improving and showing attributes that, in time, could be developed into weapons? Does the young player demonstrate athletic qualities that suggest they can positively influence the outcome of matches physically in the future? Does the child demonstrate characteristics that suggest they could develop into a player that consistently fights and competes in competitive situations; and do they apply themselves in training? Does the child demonstrate an appetite for learning and development; and/or can they look for solutions and ways to win in competitive situations? Is the young player committed to a training plan that has the appropriate volume and intensity for high performance and that target any priority areas of development? In the opinion of the Selection Panel, is the child starting to demonstrate some relevant results and beginning to build a ranking profile? Selection communication All shortlisted players will be informed regarding the outcome of the selection process by from their Regional Team no later than Friday 16 March The LTA may amend this policy periodically. Any amended policy shall be published on the LTA website. The next version is expected to be published on 31 July Appendices 5 / 05/03/2018

6 Recommended quantity Age Appendix i Long Term Athlete Development Guidelines Activity 10 years old 11 to 12 years old 13 to 14 years old Tennis 7 to 12 hours 9 to 14 hours 11 to 14 hours Other sports 2 to 5 hours 2 to 4 hours 1 to 2 hours Matches (singles and doubles) Strength and conditioning 50 to 80 matches 60 to 150 matches 70 to 150 matches 3 to 4 hours 5 to 7 hours 8 hours Appendix ii Contact details Region Contact address South East Keith Pullin keith.pullin@lta.org.uk East Sarah Hylton sarah.hylton@lta.org.uk South West (incl. South Wales) Simon Pender simon.pender@lta.org.uk North (incl. North Wales) Chris Peet chris.peet@lta.org.uk Midlands Andy Barnes andy.barnes@lta.org.uk 6 / 05/03/2018