Club tennis players urged to embrace ‘LTA Weather The Court Challenge’ and beat the English winter

Kevin Palmer

Lockdown restrictions have lifted and amatuer players can return to their club courts – if they are willing to brave the winter weather.

Snow, fog and rain have been on the agenda in England in recent days, yet Lawn Tennis Assocation chiefs are eager to encourage as many players to get back on court and defy teh winter weather.

The LTA wants to refute the myth that tennis is strictly a summer activity and is challenging this perception by encouraging players to embrace the winter conditions and safely Play Your Way on court, in the park or garden. Tennis is a great full-body workout that offers a host of physical and mental benefits, which anyone can enjoy no matter their age, ability or the weather outside.

As Britain is known for its unpredictable and unforgiving weather, and with the winter months bringing shorter days, keeping both your body and mind active is key. With this in mind, the LTA is launching the next phase of its Play Your Way campaign and is inviting new and old players alike to Weather the Court – a celebration of getting outside and playing tennis whatever the weather with the added bonus of being in with the chance of winning some incredible prizes.

#WeatherTheCourt aims to build on the rising number of players seen across Britain this year and inspire even more people to pick up a racket and return to tennis now the lockdown has lifted. As we exited the first national lockdown in May this year, the LTA saw a +567% increase in bookings made on the LTA booking service compared to the same period in 2019 as tennis participation spiked. This winter, the LTA wants to help encourage players to continue to play by offering an array of incentives set to have old and new tennis enthusiasts running to their local court or park!

By sharing a picture or video on social media, tagging the location and adding the hashtag #WeathertheCourt, players can win Decathlon vouchers (£20, £50 and £100 e-vouchers), tennis kit freebies and other great prizes.

Richard Daish, Marketing and Commercial Director at the LTA said, “winter weather presents a different opportunity to play, so with the launch of #WeatherTheCourt, we want to give tennis players old and new a boost this winter and incentivise them to get outdoors, get out on the court and reap the physical and mental benefits of keeping active. This is a continuation of Play Your Way – our ambition to make tennis more accessible and appealing for wider audiences, as we look to build on the growing number of players we have seen around the country this year. We can’t wait to see the creative ways in which fans and players from all areas of the Britain get involved in the challenge, sharing their images or videos on social and winning the exciting prizes on offer.”

This summer, the LTA launched Play Your Way, its commitment to opening tennis up to the nation, with the ambition of inspiring people of all abilities, age and background to pick up a racket and play tennis on their terms. Play Your Way is an invitation to anyone and everyone, creating a more inclusive world around tennis that celebrates individualism and welcomes all styles of playing.

So, what are you waiting for? Put on your jacket, wooly hat or gloves, grab a racket and a partner and #WeathertheCourt. For more information on how to stay safe when playing outdoors this winter, please visit here. Follow the hashtag to see how the community plays and the prizes they win. Find out how to get on court at https://www.lta.org.uk/playyourway or by following @the_LTA on Twitter and @theLTA1 on Facebook.

T&Cs apply. Find out more at

https://www.lta.org.uk/about-us/tennis-news/news-and-opinion/general-news/2020/december/what-is-weather-the-court/

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