Jono Spring

24 Straight Tennis

Now that I am back in the sport that I am so passionate about, I have decided to make an effort to increase my reach, and share insights with those who may want, need or appreciate them.

Feel free to follow my Team 24 Straight Tennis page, and keep up with the play on all things tennis…

When an Opportunity Presents Itself

Jono Spring · 31 March 2022

For over 35 years, I have been involved in tennis, in one way, shape or form. It all began with ‘padder tennis’ during my primary school years, at the tender age of nine years old. Little wooden bats, some with only half a handle or broken pieces off the face of the bat. Did I love it? You bet I did.

Did many of the other children? Yep, most of them did too.

Did we have a coach? No, we did not.

Was someone organising us? No not really… I think a teacher would put the nets up, and then told us where to find the bats and balls in the sports shed.

That was about the extent of it.

This is where my love affair with tennis all began. One day, soon after, I found an old aluminium tennis racquet in the shed at home that was held together by a nut and bolt, and I took that to school to use instead. I was amazed by how much harder it could hit the tennis ball, and all the different things I could now do to it.

Why did I start with this story? Simply because I wanted to demonstrate that by doing something so innocent as providing some equipment for a group of school kids to use during their morning tea and lunchtimes, you can enable the opportunity of an enthusiast of tennis for life. Here I am, over 35 years later, and I have served just about every position within the sport of tennis, from a player, coach, manager, committee member, board member, Development Officer, Association Chairperson, and the list goes on…

If I had to put this all into one statement, it would be this “if you provide for a group of people, you will see limitless opportunity created.”

I would not have been all the things that I have been in this sport if it hadn’t have been for the one teacher who decided to put up those nets, and make sure there were bats and balls to use.

In 2018 I wrote an article for Stuff that was titled “Tennis Faces it’s Challenges, So Everyone Must Act.” I have had a lot of feedback from this particular article over the years since it was published. I feel like it really struck a nerve for those who are involved in the sport, and simply want to see it flourish the way that it once did.

For something to flourish, it requires us taking up what is offered. I am living proof. If I never took advantage of the opportunities provided for me, I wouldn’t have had the career that I did, one full of satisfaction, personal and professional rewards, and ultimately relationships that would last a lifetime.

Because of my past experiences, I have now become an advocate of making the most of what ever opportunities are provided.