The Future of BUCS competition Overview BUCS Studentathlete

The Future of BUCS competition

Overview BUCS Student-athlete profiles (5 -1) Current BUCS offer Type 2 opportunity Questions

Type 5

Type 4

Type 3

Type 2

Type 1

Current offer

Current offer

Current offer

Current offer: x 12 court hours BUCS 1 2 3 4 12: 00 30 mins 12: 30 Doubles 13: 00 Doubles 13: 30 Doubles 14: 00 Singles 14: 30 Singles 15: 00 Singles 15: 30 Singles

Retain players in the game Type 2: Student-athletes find it difficult to play in many university tennis teams, due to high level of competition for limited team spaces. At least 1000 students each year are turned away from their university team tennis.

New format The aim is to make it easier for universities to enter more teams into the BUCS leagues, enabling more type 2 students-athletes the opportunity to play team tennis for their university. Introducing a FAST 4 scoring system into team tennis is a potential solution in the lower tiers of BUCS tennis leagues, reducing court costs by 50% and offering a quicker team tennis format for studentathletes.

Why are we suggesting this change? The priority for university tennis competitions is to keep competitive tennis players in the game whilst at university. If there are students who don’t get the opportunity to play (who want to play) then tennis in not supporting the latent demand for tennis.

What are the benefits from making this change? Students-athletes who are not currently in a BUCS tennis team will be given the opportunity to play if their institutions enter more team into the leagues. It will be easier for institutions to enter new teams, as the financial implications are lower (only 50% of the court costs).

What evidence supports the change? Analysis of a consultation conducted by the Tennis Foundation shows high numbers of players are turned away from tennis teams at university trials. At least 1000 students each year are turned away from their university team tennis, evidence of a latent demand in team tennis at universities.

Why FAST 4 format? FAST 4 Tennis provides a simple, exciting way of speeding up a conventional tennis match. The fundamentals of tennis remain the same, but there are four rules that ensure matches are fast, competitive, exciting and can be completed in a reasonable period of time. FAST 4 team tennis will take approx. 50% of the time that the current BUCS format takes to complete

When will it start? It will be piloted in university tennis in 2018/19. The intention is to launch FAST 4 team tennis in the 2019/2020 academic year.

Will this require institutions to book more courts? No, it will require 50% less court hours. Currently a BUCS tennis match requires x 12 court hours, the FAST 4 version will require just x 6 court hours.

What would be seen as success for this new initiative for type 2 studentathletes? More student-athletes playing team tennis representing their university. The FAST 4 format (2 hrs duration) halves the time required for students who as type 2 athletes would like to play in a quick format, due to lower commitment levels.

Key question this opportunity proposes: At what tier should FAST 4 be introduced? There is no fixed mind-set on the tier at which FAST 4 will enter. The options are: 1. New tiers only (comprised of new teams) 2. New tiers and the lowest existing tiers, 3. New tiers and the lowest two existing tiers 4. New tiers and the lowest three existing tiers.