ITF Player Welfare Program

As part of the ITF’s commitment to enhance player safety, the ITF is pleased to inform you that we have contracted a behavioural health care provider, Value Options®, to provide health and well-being support and an information service for ITF Circuit Players.  This service complements other ITF initiatives to enhance player welfare, which include the appointment earlier this year of Kathy Martin as the ITF Player Welfare Officer to oversee the development of a uniform ITF Code of Practice on welfare related issues and the Player Welfare Policy, which provides rules and standards to promote a safe tennis environment for all participants.

The Value Options service includes a 24-hour free, confidential, emergency telephone counselling service for ITF Circuit players experiencing a traumatic life event and an accompanying website, Achieve Solutions (www.achievesolutions.net/tennis ), which is available for the benefit of players, support team members and tournament officials, is accessible from any location worldwide.

The emergency telephone service is staffed by qualified mental health counsellors and interpreters are available for players who prefer a language other than English.  The website offers general advice on many typical problems faced by athletes, as well as dealing with more sensitive issues which may lead to a player deciding to place a call to the telephone counselling service.