Tennis Canada’s Municipal Tennis Facilities Strategy & Partnership Framework – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TENNIS IS GENDER-BALANCED It is played equally among girls, boys, women and men. TENNIS IS A SPORT OF LIFE Every age group contributes to the Canadian tennis playing population. % % TENNIS IS A SAFE SPORT 44 56 Tennis players Tennis players Among the top 10 sports in Canada, are female are male tennis has low levels of injury and concussion. CANADIANS OF ALL AGES PLAY TENNIS TENNIS IS AFFORDABLE 13% 8% No specialty clothing or footwear, 50+ 6 to 11 just a racquet and a few balls. year-olds year-olds TENNIS IS ACCESSIBLE Tennis is inclusive, equally open to persons with a disability and is 23% accessible to persons of all cultural 12 to 17 FOR EVERYONE FOR backgrounds, ages and stages of 26% year-olds 35 to 49 Tennis Canada is the Nation- The goal of this strategy is development. year-olds al Sport Organization for tennis to increase access to year–round TENNIS – A SPORT– TENNIS in Canada and aims to improve tennis for all Canadians. Cov- TENNIS IS A TOP 3 SPORT AMONG 30% the lives of Canadians through ered courts include courts NEW CANADIANS 18 to 34 year-olds tennis. The organization’s mission under a permanent, an 23% of tennis players were born is to lead the growth of the sport air-supported or other outside of Canada. in the country. That mission can fabric frame structure only be accomplished with more that enables Canadians TENNIS PROMOTES QUALITY individuals playing more tennis to play tennis regardless PROGRAMMING AND CERTIFIED more frequently, including during of the weather. Through COACHES AND INSTRUCTORS winter. Tennis Canada hopes to a partnership structure, There are over 3300 certified tennis increase the number of accessible municipalities can help coaches in Canada. Tennis Canada and affordable covered courts in deliver affordable tennis promotes safe sport and mandates 23% Canada. With only one accessible programs for all ages and background checks for coaches. of tennis players covered court for every 50,000 abilities by leveraging their were born outside of Canada Canadians, there is a shortage operational and programming TENNIS IS ONE OF THE BEST FORMS of year–round tennis courts in expertise, as well as the local OF EXERCISE TO HELP IMPROVE Canada preventing residents from community. By partnering with CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH playing tennis for the greater local governments, not-for-profit A British study found that TENNIS PLAYERS LIVE LONGER part of the year. To help address groups, and other community respondents that had played racquet this shortage, Tennis Canada has organizations, Tennis Canada h sports had a 56% lower risk of dying Tennis 9.7 developed the Municipal Tennis opes to ensure that Canadians of heart disease or a stroke. Badminton 6.2 Facilities Strategy and Partner- can play tennis in any community, ship Framework. at any time of year – let’s work PLAYING TENNIS EXTENDS ONE’S Soccer 4.7 together, let’s play together! LIFE EXPECTANCY BY 9.7 YEARS Cycling 3.7 The Copenhagen City Heart Study compared several sports and found Swimming 3.4 tennis to be the leading sport in Jogging 3.2 increasing life expectancy. Increase in life expectancy (years) Tennis Canada’s Municipal Tennis Facilities Strategy & Partnership Framework | 3 “We used to play tennis in the park during summer, it would have been great to have access to those courts year-round.” – Félix Auger-Aliassime “I wanted to believe that you can make it as a player coming from Canada. With more indoor facilities, it’s possible.” – Bianca Andreescu “My hope is to further ignite the tennis boom in Canada and help more kids pick up a racquet.” – Denis Shapovalov TENNIS PARTICIPATION ACROSS CANADA % BY THE NUMBERS THE BY 8 CANADIAN TENNIS 12% 18% % 50% 2 TENNIS FACILITIES 34% ACROSS CANADA 37% of Canadians (18.5M) have Most Canadians start playing 50% tennis with a friend or family member played tennis in their lifetime. on public outdoor courts, but, for many, the lack of covered courts has made tennis a seasonal sport played only 18% of Canadians (6.5M) played tennis in the past year. in summer. Across Canada, there are 7,500 of Canadians (4.5M) played tennis accessible tennis courts in the private There is only one accessible covered court 12% and public sectors, and only 10% are per 50,000 Canadians, making Canada last at least 4 times in the past year. covered. While municipalities own among developed nations in this regard. Research and operate far more courts than any has shown that 61% of Canadian tennis players use of Canadians (2.9M) played tennis other sector, only 2% of municipal outdoor courts and would play more tennis if they 8% at least once a week during the tennis courts are covered and thus had access to convenient and affordable covered open to year-round play. Increasingly courts. In addition, Canadians who are thinking of tennis season. outdoor sports such as hockey and taking up the sport indicated that the wider avail- swimming have moved indoors, but ability of covered courts could convert them to The percentages mentioned above are inclusive of each other. tennis has fallen behind. regular players. 6 | Tennis Canada’s Municipal Tennis Facilities Strategy & Partnership Framework Tennis Canada | 7 Tennis Canada’s Municipal Tennis Facilities Strategy and Partnership Framework was developed to help municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and other community groups achieve successful covered court projects. The core components of the Strategy and Framework demonstrate: ALIGNMENT WITH 01 NATIONAL SPORT AND RECREATION POLICIES Tennis Canada’s Municipal Tennis Facilities Strategy and Partnership STRATEGY Framework is aligned with the Framework for Recreation in Canada (Canadian Parks and Recreation Association), the Canadian Sport Policy (Sport Canada) and the Long- term Athlete Development Framework (Sport for Life Society), as well as many municipal mandates, policies and facility development plans, to COVERED COURT help support initiatives to advance TENNIS CANADA’S TENNIS CANADA’S local public policy and recreation service delivery priorities. FLEXIBLE OPERATING TOOLS & RESOURCES Tennis is becoming a on how they can help deliver 02 AND OWNERSHIP 04 With its 3 planning tools, 18 resources leading sport in Canada. more covered courts to their MODELS and information to support municipal Last year, 6.5 million communities. The Framework planning, research and decision-mak- Canadians hit the courts is based on best practices and The Framework applies to collabora- ing, the Framework takes the guess and there has been a 36% case studies of municipalities tions between municipalities and work out of developing a successful increase in frequent tennis play already working in partnership potential partners such as community covered tennis court project. over the past two years. Canadian with external organizations to tennis clubs, not-for-profit agencies athletes like Milos Raonic, provide their residents with and commercial entities. Eugenie Bouchard, Denis access to more recreational Shapovalov, Bianca Andreescu, activities. Covered court projects Félix Auger-Aliassime and are excellent opportunities for INTEGRATION WITH ONGOING SUPPORT Gabriela Dabrowski are domi- municipalities to support their 03 SEVERAL SPORTS 05 Tennis Canada is available to offer nating on courts around the active living strategies and meet The Framework provides guidance for advice, expertise and relevant world and inspiring their nation the growing demand for access municipalities seeking to design multi- research to help support planning, to play more tennis, or try it for to tennis, while ensuring a sport and multi-functional facilities. design and project implementation. the first time! financial return on their invest- Sports such as badminton, basketball, As a not-for-profit organization, Tennis ment. For several decades, tennis pickleball and volleyball can be easily Canada is also working to establish The Municipal Tennis facilities across Canada have integrated into a tennis facility. partnerships to fund covered court Facilities Strategy and Partnership relied on air-supported struc- initiatives and thus provide financial Framework was developed to tures—an effective solution to support to municipalities to help with engage local governments and cover such open spaces. their project planning and capital costs. supply them with information 8 | Tennis Canada Tennis Canada’s Municipal Tennis Facilities Strategy & Partnership Framework | 9 ECONOMIC BENEFITS Covered court facilities generate revenue through programs, court 01 rental fees and leases. After expenses, a facility can generate $20,000 to over $40,000 per court in annual revenue. Hard courts are multi-sport surfaces that can easily accommodate 02 several racquet and net sports. Covered courts increase the number of volunteering opportunities 03 over a full 12-month season and provide valuable education and Already available in over 90 Canadian municipalities, covered coach certification opportunities. court tennis facilities yield many benefits and help achieve Covered court facilities create new full and part-time job community development and program delivery objectives 04 opportunities for facility managers, tennis coaches and program instructors. including, multi-sport integration. Covered court facilities can be multi-functional when designed to 05 also meet other community needs: trade shows and exhibitions, COMMUNITY BENEFITS town hall meetings, and other community-based events. Across Canada, sports tourism generates over $3B in annual reve- Tennis is a sport for life. Playing tennis positively contributes to 01 06 nue—a figure that is rising. Covered tennis facilities provide physical, mental and social well-being. opportunities to host tournaments and events. Requiring minimal equipment, tennis is affordable, especially 02 compared to other traditional and core sports. MULTI-SPORT INTEGRATION Year-round tennis makes it easier for citizens to allocate more time 03 to physical activity. Allowing for a range of sports, a covered court facility enables municipalities to support their recreation service delivery philosophy and achieve their community health benefit objectives.