The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour informed Tennis Canada it has chosen the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank to lauch an historic on-court coaching test.
Therefore, players will be able to request their coach to come on court once per set as well as during set breaks. If a player takes a medical time out or bathroom break, the opposing player only may request her coach without losing one of her rights to do so. Coaching timeouts will be conducted during changeovers and at mid-set intervals. In either case, there will be no delay of play permitted. Coaches will be assigned designated seats to ensure easy access to the court.
For televised matches, all coaching timeouts will be filmed and available for broadcast to TV viewers on a tape delayed basis.
“We are very anxious to see the reactions of the fans, players and coaches following this new initiative”, declared Eugene Lapierre, Tournament Director for the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank. “It’s very innovative, especially from a TV perspective. It is as if fans were able to hear a hockey coach’s dressing room pep talk in between periods.”
On-court coaching test is the latest in a series of innovations unveiled in 2006 such as 1) pre-match player interviews so fans can hear how a player feels just moments before stepping onto the court; 2) coaches interviews during matches; 3) placing of wireless microphones on players during practice, as well as on court and on the umpire’s chair to bring the true sound of play to the viewers at home; 4) coordination with broadcasters to reduce on-air pre-match warm ups so that TV viewers are taken right to match action; and 5) the implementation of the new electronic line-calling system in select tournaments.
“I think on-court coaching will be really interesting, both for players and fans,” said Sony Ericsson WTA Tour World no. 7 and former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, of Russia. “This will add a new story to the match and I think that fans will enjoy this new element. I know that as players we are all interested to see how this test works out.”
Tests will also be carried out at the Pilot Pen tournament held in New Haven, Connecticut, the week following the Rogers Cup.
Will AtP be next if it works out???
Therefore, players will be able to request their coach to come on court once per set as well as during set breaks. If a player takes a medical time out or bathroom break, the opposing player only may request her coach without losing one of her rights to do so. Coaching timeouts will be conducted during changeovers and at mid-set intervals. In either case, there will be no delay of play permitted. Coaches will be assigned designated seats to ensure easy access to the court.
For televised matches, all coaching timeouts will be filmed and available for broadcast to TV viewers on a tape delayed basis.
“We are very anxious to see the reactions of the fans, players and coaches following this new initiative”, declared Eugene Lapierre, Tournament Director for the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank. “It’s very innovative, especially from a TV perspective. It is as if fans were able to hear a hockey coach’s dressing room pep talk in between periods.”
On-court coaching test is the latest in a series of innovations unveiled in 2006 such as 1) pre-match player interviews so fans can hear how a player feels just moments before stepping onto the court; 2) coaches interviews during matches; 3) placing of wireless microphones on players during practice, as well as on court and on the umpire’s chair to bring the true sound of play to the viewers at home; 4) coordination with broadcasters to reduce on-air pre-match warm ups so that TV viewers are taken right to match action; and 5) the implementation of the new electronic line-calling system in select tournaments.
“I think on-court coaching will be really interesting, both for players and fans,” said Sony Ericsson WTA Tour World no. 7 and former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, of Russia. “This will add a new story to the match and I think that fans will enjoy this new element. I know that as players we are all interested to see how this test works out.”
Tests will also be carried out at the Pilot Pen tournament held in New Haven, Connecticut, the week following the Rogers Cup.
Will AtP be next if it works out???
