Tournament Support has become one of the most important parts of our program. It is where players face real challenges, experience pressure, and show us exactly what they need to work on. The feedback we gain from matches goes straight back onto the practice court, saving hours of directionless training and accelerating development.
When we first opened the Academy, 6 years ago, it was not always easy to convey this. Parents did not always see the benefit or the investment, and often Kiwi coaches would come along to watch matches on their day off rather than being fully integrated into the player’s competition schedule.
Since then, we have invested heavily in Tournament Support. The time and energy that goes into booking flights, hotels, transport, and managing logistics is significant. Just as important is ensuring that every player is entered in the events that will give them the biggest benefit.
Fast forward to now and we are pumped to be heading back to the NZ Nationals in Christchurch with 6 coaches and over 25 players competing. This shows just how far we have come and how central Tournament Support is in what we do.
Next year our teams will travel across New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Southeast Asia, and Europe as part of our Tournament Support packages. But first up, the NZ Masters in October followed by Nationals in December. Let’s go!
