A technical director to develop young tennis players in Bermuda is something retiring Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association president Ross Hillen would like to see established.

He does not feel tennis will become a ?national sport? for the Island, or that a sports lottery fund-raising initiative is likely to happen any time soon, but as he ends his two years at the head of the BTLA he sees plenty of positives for today and the future.

Having set himself the goal of leading the BLTA for two years, he has remained true to his intention and he believes the organisation is in better shape and has a strategic plan for the future ? which is awaiting final approval by the board.

?I played tennis since I was a boy and got so much satisfaction from it. It is my sport and I felt a commitment to give back to something that had given me so much,? said Hillen.

That opportunity came three years ago when BLTA?s then president David Lambert called and asked if he would like to join the executive. Hillen agreed and a year later succeeded Lambert as president.

Comparing the sport set-up of today with how it had been in his youth, Hillen said: ?The opportunities for young players now compared to then is like night and day.?

He explained: ?Since 1993 they have been able to watch top players at the XL tournament. There are junior tournaments for players under ten, we have Under-14s able to take part in the Caribbean Championships and Under-16s in the Junior Davis Cup. These are opportunities that did not exist 40 years ago.?

Currently, there are 647 known junior players on the Island. At the WER Joell Tennis Stadium a junior weekend programme is provided at nominal cost and there is the school tennis initiative sponsored by ACE Foundation.

Adult players are now able to compete in the Davis Cup and Federation Cup.

Twenty-three tennis events have been organised during Hillen?s two-year tenure, and he paid particular thanks to Allan Simmons and Gill Butterfield for their efforts in respect of these.

Bank of Bermuda Foundation are continuing their sponsorship of the ITF Tournament for 2007 and 2008, bringing top level Under-18s to the Island for Bermudian players to watch their skills close up.

One important change Hillen feels has been made at the BLTA is in the implementation of a business-like approach to the way it is run. They reached their financial targets and ended 2006 with a surplus.

?One of my priorities was to run the BLTA as a business because anything less and the chances of success in this area would have been considerably reduced. We have had to employ business strategies. I would say that a solid foundation has now been laid.?

Bermuda?s success at the 2005 Island Games in Gibraltar, where they picked up two gold, two silver and four bronzes, showed the Island can compete internationally.

Hillen said: ?Our success there should force us to look closely at where we can be competitive in international events. Events such as the Island Games may be a more appropriate tournament for Bermuda to compete in.?

At the end of last year, he said, Bermuda had three girls and two boys ranked in the world?s top 1,500 tennis players.

As for tennis becoming a designated national sport for Bermuda, Hillen does not think anyone should be holding their breath, not when football and cricket can attract thousands of young players.

During his time as president Hillen has seen areas where improvements can be made to benefit not only tennis but other sports in Bermuda. As an example, he said smaller sports bodies might improve their efficiency if they could share administrative talent with other sports groups, and he suggested might be the appropriate forum where those interested could step forward to begin to create such a grouping.

Bermuda is also blessed with a wealth of tennis coaching talent but again it is fragmented, said Hillen.

?There are groups who make a living from tennis who are entrepreneurs focusing on their business and their needs. There would be merit in them joining as a professional body, which would move their focus as individuals to the sport as a business.?

Hillen speaks of being impressed with the support and accessibility of former Sports Minister Dale Butler and Director of Sports Anthony Roberts, and the support of his executive colleagues, the aforementioned Butterfield and Simmons, Phil Cooper, Veronica Dunkerley and Scott Wheeler.

As for attracting sponsorship and funding into sport, Hillen does not see a fund-raising sports lottery ? as exists in other countries ? being established in Bermuda anytime soon.

However, he feels could assist by an increasing willingness to publish the names of large sponsorship donators when they are linked to sporting endeavours, thereby providing a further carrot for such organisations to continue their financial association with events.

Another thing Hillen would like to see is the appointment of a technical director of tennis.

?We are only going to turn out so many sportsmen and women of a high level and we need to ensure we are on as level a playing field as possible with far larger territories. That will come from having a professional technical director who focuses their time on the development of junior tennis versus the well-meaning individuals who do it at the moment,? he said.

And when young players show strong potential there should be a mechanism allowing them to go overseas to continue their development, he believes.

As much as a technical director for tennis would be desirable, Hillen also regards parents as the ultimate resource not only for tennis but all sports involving youngsters.

?The greatest source of help from a volunteer aspect can be achieved through parents. This source must be tapped into by sports organisations in Bermuda. You will not find a more dedicated volunteer than a parent.?

As he prepares to end his two-year stint in office, Hillen reflected: ?I?m delighted to have given my time. As for my having made a difference I will let others be the judge of that. I have no regrets, it has been fun. I feel I have repaid the obligation I had for the sport.?