MILDURA Lawn Tennis Club (MLTC) is considering an early start to its summer competition.
Club officials have confirmed if COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed in the coming weeks, they will look at bringing forward the official start date.
The decision has been prompted by the cancellation of the winter season, which after a delayed start was shut down after just three weeks when the State Government re-introduced stage 3 restrictions for regional Victoria.
The MLTC is also considering introducing a new format to complement its Saturday afternoon sectional competition.
Local tennis coach Bill Madafferi has raised the idea of a Premier League format, which was successfully introduced during the Sunraysia District Tennis Association winter season in 2019.
Under the proposed Premier League format, teams of three would compete in singles and doubles.
Madafferi said he is yet to hear back from the MLTC committee on whether it would adopt the idea, but believes it would be a great addition to the summer tennis program.
“We need to offer players something different. Sectional tennis suits some people, but not others,” Madaferri.
“It is all about getting more people playing the game and providing a pathway for our junior players.”
Madafferi said there had never been a better opportunity for tennis to grow its numbers with winter sport cancelled across the region.
“The couple of rounds we played during the winter season, we saw the number of football players who were playing and other players from other sports who had joined clubs,” Madafferi said.
“It is important we keep these players involved in the game over the summer.
“I known in most cases they will go back to football, but during summer we want them down at the lawn (MLTC) playing on a Saturday afternoon.
“And then there are the players who only player winter tennis because they prefer the format. We need to get those players down as well.
“Sectional tennis is great and by offering the two formats you are giving players a choice as well as creating stronger competition.”
