Raising standards across the world: the ITF's training centre quest

Global tennis development, growing the game and bettering the sport for future generations is an integral purpose of the ITF and this manifests itself in many ways. 

Funding is focused around six key pillars that cover all areas of development – performance, participation, education, facilities, events, and administration & resources. Since 2021, the ITF has invested more than $50m into these areas. 

Much of the ITF’s work in the global development sphere centres on developing tennis nations or nations that are more under-resourced than others. However, one project that is universal is the ITF’s National Training Centre Recognition Programme. 

The ITF is keen to raise standards across the board and ensure a global footprint relating to facilities, coaching, and training. As such, in 2018, the ITF established criteria for National Training Centres worldwide. 

The ITF recognises a member nation’s National Training Centre as being at either Gold, Silver, Bronze, or White level with the belief that such accreditation will continue to elevate standards across the board and help the sport of tennis grow and prosper. 

At the end of 2023, seven nations – France (Gold), USA (Gold), Great Britain (Gold), Colombia (Silver), Lithuania (Silver), Hong Kong (Bronze) and Qatar (Bronze) – had facilities recognised through the ITF’s National Training Centre Recognition Programme. 

Now, at the start of 2025, 22 nations across the world have facilities recognised through the programme and the ITF’s aim is for this figure to continue rising – and for the standard of facilities to continue improving in every corner of the world. 

Of the 15 nations recognised during 2024, Canada, Netherlands and Switzerland all achieved Gold-level recognition, while Tunisia was recognised at Bronze level, with the remaining 11 centres awarded White recognition. 

The nations that received White recognition were Pakistan, Paraguay, Mauritius, Albania, Myanmar, Peru, Suriname, Bhutan, Ecuador, Rwanda, and Jordan, which goes to show that it is not only big tennis-playing nations making strides.  

Indeed, Mauritius was the first African nation to have their National Training Centre recognised through the programme, for which the Mauritius Tennis Federation received the ITF Development Award last April. 

"Assisting more players and ensuring that a greater number of nations have access to quality training environments on a daily basis are the primary objectives of this programme,” said Debbie Kirkwood, the ITF’s Head of Performance and Events.

“It has been exciting to see the growth achieved during 2024, not only with regards to the number of newly recognised facilities, but also the volume of applications currently in progress.

“The goal for the end of the next four-year cycle in 2028 is to have a network of training centres across the globe that nations are truly proud of, and which support player and coach development to the highest levels possible.”

All applicant nations to the ITF's National Training Centre Recognition Programme provide documentary evidence and have their centre reviewed to demonstrate that systems and procedures are in place in six areas. These are: facilities and equipment, management, integrity, coaching team, sports science & medicine and player programmes. 

The ITF also offers help to developing-tennis nations with the ability to apply for Facility Grants, receive visits from Development Officers and experts, and the provision of ITF-approved materials on the running of a National Training Centres and effective programmes. 

For National Associations wishing to explore the ITF National Training Centre Recognition Programme, further information is available from the ITF’s Development Officer for the region.