Sports Management Issue 1 2012 - Leisure Opportunities

TENNIS
TENNIS COURT
ITF Recognition
Jamie Capel-Davies outlines the process
and benefits relating to the International
Tennis Federation’s (ITF) independent
assessment of quality tennis courts
Marin Cilic of Croatia in
the Quarter Final during
the 2010 Australian
Open tennis tournament
W
ith an estimated *US$30bn
(£19.6bn) having been
invested in tennis court
construction worldwide,
it is understandable that investors and
players are keen to know the quality of
construction and, increasingly, how fast
or slow a court plays.
A laser level is used to
establish the slope and
planarity of the court,
during the testing of a
court against ITF standards
In response to this need, the International
Tennis Federation’s (ITF) science and
technical department has established ITF
Recognition to provide end-users with an
independent assessment of the quality of
their court, and offers contractors an opportunity
to demonstrate the calibre of
their products and installation skills.
WHAT IS ITF RECOGNITION
ITF Recognition is a test-based programme.
To receive One-Star Recognition,
the court’s key installation properties
must meet ITF recommendations.
Testing begins with a visual inspection
to identify any cracks or gaps in the surface
and ensure a uniform appearance.
Next, an evenness test measures the size
of any bumps or dips in the surface with
the use of a straight edge, and the slope
and planarity of the court are established
with a laser level. Finally, the position of
the court markings and net are checked
to ensure they are within tolerance.
Two-Star Recognition requires the
court pace rating (CPR) to be compared
with the ITF-classified value for the surface
product, in addition to the One-Star
tests described above.
The pace is quantified by firing a ball at
the court and recording its speed before
and after the bounce. Rougher surfaces,
which generate more friction between
the ball and the court, reduce the speed
of the ball parallel to the ground making
a court ‘slower’. Surfaces that have a higher
bounce also appear slower because
players have more time to reach the ball.
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