New Tennikoit Clubs
Start a Club
Whether you want to start a club in your local community or set up a club at your school, now is a great time to start! Launching a club can seem like a daunting task to begin with, but when it’s broken down step by step, it becomes quite a straightforward process.
Even though every team has a slightly different way of doing things to suit their members, Tennikoit GB recommends following Sport England’s Club Matters program. The program lays out key areas to think about like finances, welfare, and coaching.
If you want to start a club because you’re passionate about the sport, have players who want to take part, and a place and the equipment you need to play, then you are in a great position to get started. If you need help getting these things in place, contact us and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Types of Club
Broadly, there are two different types of club that exist in Great Britain: community and approved. Community clubs are casual play groups while recognised clubs are official tennikoit clubs recognised by Tennikoit GB who compete in local, regional, and national events while also offering coaching and play sessions to local players – new and experienced!
Tennikoit GB has set a minimum standard that all clubs have to meet before they are able to officially register as an approved club. Achieving approved club status gives clubs the opportunity to take part in official competitions – like the British National Championships – and gives them access to support directly from the national governing body.
To achieve approved club status, tennikoit clubs must have the following in place:
1- A team manager/leader who’s responsible for running the club
2- A welfare officer (not the same person as the team manager/leader)
3- A DBS check in place for each of the staff/volunteers associated with the club
4- A written safeguarding and/or a player welfare policy
5- All coaches must have a valid, in-date first aid qualification
Clubs that are launching as part of a school, college or university and is run by the institutions staff are exempted from points two, three, and four as the club is deemed to fall under the institutions existing welfare and recruitment framework.
If you would like to apply for approved club status, you could apply to join Tennikoit GB as a club. If you have any questions about the process, you can contact us for more information.