"With the help of a $5000 donation from Ocean Conversion the Long Look/East End Tennis Club Courts have brand new nets" photo credit: supplied

"Carol Mitchell, who began coaching seriously just under a year ago, has already met with local and regional success, but isn't stopping there" photo credit:supplied

Dmoni Green and Jahmal Bertie of LL/EE Tennis Club just before they clashed in the Boys U10 final at the 2012 BVILTA Junior Championships photo credit: supplied by BVILTA

The Tennis Courts in East End were originally the vision of the Honorable Dr. Kedrick Pickering and were recently re-surfaced under the watchful care of Keith Malone. However according to Mitchell there were still several areas of concern, namely the nets, a retaining wall, renovations to the existing bathroom facility and the relocation of a homeless man! 

Mitchell though has spoken to the Hon. Pickering, now Deputy Premier and Representative of the District “I’m so happy that he (Pickering) thought outside the box to build the courts and he has assured me he will assist further to get them back up to standard” commented Mitchell.

The additional support of Ocean Conversion has allowed the nets to be replaced and the balance of the funds will go to further developing the talented youngsters who are a part of the East End/Long Look Tennis Club and attracting new players to the sport.

Mitchell who stills play regularly at the Tortola Sports Club and is often found in the latter stages of Tournaments there, either in the Singles or with Doubles partner and husband Patrick has a self confessed passion for the sport and began coaching more seriously about a year ago. 

During that short space of time Mitchell has already made great strides forward, working hand in hand with the BVI Lawn Tennis Association, with three young boys in particular making the biggest impression locally and on the Regional scene.

“I started coaching the youngsters last year September, and within that time I have taken Adrian Baijnauth, Jamhal Bertie & Dmoni Green to St.Lucia to participate in the Coca Cola Caribbean Championships, on behalf of the BVI Lawn Tennis Association,” noted Mitchell. 

Before departing for that Tournament in July Mitchell and her “East End Crew” took part in the BVILTA Junior Tennis Championship, held back in May, when Diondre Green had the misfortune to come up against another rising star in the U14 bracket, Paul Oliver, but pushed him all the way before losing to the eventual champion.  “I need to keep training full on, if I am to keep these chaps off my back” stated Oliver.

According to BVILTA Officials the under 10’s bracket was dominated by the presence of the East End crew, “who, under Mitchell’s instruction have done wonders for itself in terms of training”. 

This section was dominated by long games, anxious moments and amazing rallies. “They’re playing like grown-ups,” commented one onlooker. Especially so in an epic final played out between Bertie and Green with Bertie snatching a hard earned victory. 

The Caribbean Championships had also been a great success “The boys played in two divisions, under-10 and under-12, two of them played semi-finals matches and it was a good exposure,” according to Mitchell. 

The tournament had not been without some controversy though as Mitchell felt at least one of the Boys had been “cheated” out of a place in the final. “The boys were cheated out of the tournament!” claimed the passionate Mitchell. “There were two group of 10s, A&B, Adrian & Jahmal were in group A & Dmoni was in group B, the two boys won group A and Adrian & Jahmal was suppose to face each other in the semi’s” 

This was confirmed by a Tournament Official the night before, but when the Boys arrived at the Court everything had changed according to Mitchell. “When we arrived the format had changed and their names were put in a bag to be drawn to see who played the two boys from group B who were both from St Lucia and both boys lost their matches”. 

Baijnauth was defeated by Jordan Hunte (4-8) and Bertie went down to Max William by the same score. “During the Tournament the boys played in both the U 10s and U12’s, in a round-robin format got a great experience “ said Mitchell “and it help to improve their games.”

This year the ITF (International Tennis Federation) have changed the format of coaching tennis to youngsters with the focus being on making it Easy, Fun & Healthy! “It’s out with the fast yellow ball and in with the slower Red, Orange & Green balls.” said Mitchell “The new rule, for 10-and- under tennis competition, came into effect from January 2012; the new balls let the youngster have fun and they enjoy the game much more.”She added. 

She has already taken the entry level coaching certificate offered by the ITF, “Play and Stay”, but rather than wait for a level one course to be available in the region Mitchell plans on heading off to Atlanta to start learning coaching techniques at the renowned Ace Academy, whose focus is on Junior Development.

As well as Coaching programmes ACE also has  been a top producer of junior tennis players since 1994, with its  players winning over 35 national titles including 12 Gold Balls (National Championships) and 95% of youngsters progressing through the programmes  have gone on to play college tennis!!!

Driven by her love of the game and her enthusiasm for helping youngsters Mitchell isn’t stopping there either and has plans on launching After School tennis programs at the club for  boys & girls between the ages of 7-14 years.

So if you think your son or daughter is the next Roger Federer, a Williams in the making or just wants to have some fun,  it might just be worth giving her a call on 544 2140.

Registration for the classes is open until September 14^th and they will start on the 18^th from 4pm -5.30pm at the Long Look /East End Tennis Courts.