A TEENAGE tennis trio have been rewarded for their efforts coaching the region's up and coming players.

Alcester High School's Matt Fielding and Sam Kirby, both aged 16, and 15-year-old Sam Allum of Studley High School have completed their Tennis Leaders Awards.

The scheme was piloted by the Lawn Tennis Association this year and children in Year 10 and Year 11 from Studley and Alcester High Schools, together with Alcester Grammar School and Alcester St Benedict's, had to complete four different modules in areas including assisting a qualified coach, organisation, communication and leadership skills. There were further modules on running and organising junior tournaments and events such as open days.

The youngsters also had to do practical as well as theoretical work which meant they had to practice their skills on court with the coaching team.

Penny Harris, of Penntenn Coaching, said the awards were well deserved.

"They are recognised by the LTA as a qualification in leadership skills with a tennis bias and, hopefully, some of our candidates will follow this up as a career," she explained.

"We were helped by the South Warwickshire Youth Bank who very kindly sponsored us to help with the cost of the facilities so we were able to hold the course at the new AGS sports centre."