College sport: Parents take aim at tennis 'rip-off'

Tennis Northern chief executive David Frank. Photo / APN

Tennis Northern's withdrawal from junior nationals prompts call for heads to roll.

Tennis Northern have come under fire after withdrawing their teams from this month's national junior teams event and some parents and clubs in the region are so upset they hope to bring about board and management changes.

Tennis Northern last month made the decision to withdraw all six of their teams (boys' and girls' 12, 14 and 16 and under) from the annual tournaments because of a lack of players. Parents say this was a result of "rip-off" prices being charged by the regional body and a hasty decision made without sufficient consultation.

Tennis Northern, which represents 47 clubs from the Harbour Bridge north, won't even play at the boys' and girls' 14 and under competition, even though it is being played at Albany.

"We could see no logic in treating one team differently to another," said Tennis Northern chief executive David Frank, who indicated they had received significant support for their decision.

The biggest issue is cost. In the 12 and under divisions, the price per child to play in Wellington was $950 for travel and accommodation and $200 for a coach.

Parents found they could halve the price.

Tennis Northern declined the offer, saying they wanted players to travel and stay together as a team and had applied for funding on that basis. They then withdrew the teams believing they didn't have enough players. Parents' hopes of a meeting with management to find a compromise came to nothing.

"At the time of pulling out, we have nine players confirmed out of 30 and one team saying they would compete only under certain sets of circumstances," Frank said.

A second team from Tennis Central will play in their place in both the boys and girls competitions in Wellington.

"They proved to be totally inflexible in terms of an alternative approach to funding and seemed far more intent on justifying applications for grants and providing money-making opportunities for their coaches than they were on creating an opportunity for the children to play in this event," said Campbells Bay vice-president Anthony McNaughten.

"[Parents] wanted their kids to take part but just weren't prepared to pay the rip-off prices Tennis Northern were trying to charge."

Official letters of complaint have been sent by a handful of clubs to Tennis New Zealand and a petition was started calling on the national body and the six federation chief executives to "provide the support and funding the national junior teams event deserves". By yesterday it had been signed by 216 supporters including 1973 Australian Open finalist and long-time coach Onny Parun.

Some parents are so unhappy they hope to challenge the hierarchy at Tennis Northern.

"We need new representation on the board and changes in the Tennis Northern management team because they are killing the game in the region," McNaughten said.

Frank said meetings had been held with Tennis New Zealand and bosses from around the country and the teams event would be reviewed.