Women In Tennis
Women in Tennis
The Women in Tennis Programme was established in 2019 and is funded by Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport Unit. In line with Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport Policy, the four main areas of focus are: Active Participation, Coaching and Officiating, Leadership and Governance, and Visibility. The Women in Tennis initiative comprises of many programmes which target the four focus areas as set out by Sport Ireland. In 2022, Tennis Ireland was awarded the ITF Gold Award for Gender Equality in Tennis, in recognition of the success of the programme and in 2024 received Highly Commended for our Women in Tennis Programme.
Women’s try tennis
- The Women’s Try Tennis Programme aims to make tennis affordable and accessible for women who are beginners or who haven’t played the sport in a number of years.
- The aim is to encourage women to join a club or continue taking lessons once they have completed the programme.
- The programme usually runs between 4-8 weeks where participants learn the basic skills and rules of the game.
- We can offer funding towards the programme and a club or LSP also typically contribute funding to keep the cost as low as possible for participants. All coaches must be licensed with Tennis Ireland in order to receive funding.
- To date in 2025, over 280 women have taken part in 30 programmes nationwide. In addition to these programmes, 476 girls and women have participated in 20 Women’s Try Tennis sessions. In 2024, over 270 women have taken part in 28 Women’s Try Tennis Programmes across the country. The current club joiner rate and participants who continue to play on community courts is 68%.
- If you would like to set up a programme or find out about what programmes are running near you, please contact our Diversity & Inclusion Officer Aoife O’Sullivan at [email protected]
Coaching Support Scheme
In line with Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport Policy, Tennis Ireland are committed to supporting female tennis coaches. Female tennis coaches are offered a partial reimbursement of their coaching fee once a female coach has completed all necessary training, assignments and practicals. In 2024, Tennis Ireland offered €6K to female coaches to support their development. To date in 2025, we have offered €9K to female coaches to ensure that the numbers of female tennis coaches in Ireland continue to increase.
Women in racket Sports
- Women in Racket Sports is a joint initiative between Tennis Ireland, Table Tennis Ireland, Badminton Ireland and Squash Ireland to support the development of female coaches and leaders within all four of our sports. Our inaugural event was held in Carlow Lawn Tennis Club in April 2024. Chloe Magee (3X Olympian) spoke about her own experience of transitioning from a professional athlete to coach. The coaches also shared their own experiences of coaching and had the opportunity to network with one another. 70 women and girls of all ages get the opportunity to try badminton, table tennis, squash and tennis! Female coaches from all four sports were on hand to facilitate the event.
- In 2025 we held a similar event in Galway LTC to coincide with International Women’s Day. Our next Women in Racket Sports event will take place in Ballyconnell, Cavan on 27th September – register here!
Bille Jean King Cup Roadshow
- In June, members of Ireland’s Billie Jean King Cup Team attended St Olaf’s National School for a meet and greet session with pupils before their tournament in Moldova.
- The pupils got to meet players including – Sinéad Lohan and Breda Brennan – as well as Team Captain John McGahon. Coach Karrie Murphy was also on hand to facilitate the day
Her moves – serve swap
- Her Moves is a Sport Ireland initiative designed to inspire and support more teenage girls to be physically active.
- Tennis Ireland’s Her Moves initiative – Serve Swap – combines social tennis and sustainability by swapping pre-loved items with one another.
- Her Moves is all about “finding something that moves you” and encouraging teenage girls to participate in physical activity in a fun, supportive and non-competitive environment. Find out more at HerMoves.ie.
Court bosses
- In 2024 Tennis Ireland launched a pilot programme called Court Bosses for girls between the ages of 16 and 18 consisted of Level 1 Coaching Course as well as personal development classes.
- This programme was a joint initiative between Tennis Ireland and industry leading experts from sport and business backgrounds. The project team included Nuala Phillips (EDI Officer, Hilden Tennis Club), Lisa Strutt (Reboot), Sinead Sharkey-Steenson (Reboot), Michelle Daly-Hayes and Sarah McCraken.
Women in Sport Week ’25
- 300 secondary school girls took part in a Her Moves Exercise Energise Day at the Sport Campus.
- 85 women availed of low-cost tennis lessons across the country during Women in Sport Week.
- Tennis Ireland, Badminton Ireland, Irish Squash and Table Tennis Ireland held our Women in Racket Sports Day in Galway Lawn Tennis Club on International Women’s Day. The day included guest speaker Bernard Hanratty, who spoke about the importance of male allyship for women in sport, a wonderful panel discussion with Emma Murphy, Jennifer Dillon and Miriam Magee, and a chance for girls and women of all ages to try out all four of our sports!
women in sport policies
Webinars
GET INVOLVED
For more information on women in tennis or how you and your club can get involved, please contact National Coordinator for Women in Tennis, Aoife O’Sullivan on [email protected]
