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So cricket got a lot of money, football just got $15 million, and all the other sports think that they deserve a piece of the pie as well. The good thing about our cricketers (and the investment the government made in the game) is that it will pay off down the line. The $11 million won't help our current squad finish any higher in the World Cup, but the younger players will benefit tremendously from the process of the World Cup campaign.

In the wide world of sport the business of junior development comes down to a little talent and a lot of dough.

In individual sports the investment per athlete is much greater than that of team sports. Outside of horseback riding, or motor sports I would argue that the costs of producing an average Division I college tennis player (if 10 years old in 2007, college in 2015) in Bermuda (including inflation) could be approaching $800,000.

So what does this mean? At age 10 an aspiring player would have to have at least 5 private lessons a month minimum. The average cost for a lesson would be $80.

If the parents are not members of a club ($2,000 a year) then court time would have to be figured in. The correct tennis attire is a rule at all clubs in Bermuda, so add on another $700 a year on equipment.

A couple camps in the summertime and over other holidays could be an additional $600. $8,100.

This figure will remain the same up until age 11.

Once the child starts having a little success in local tournaments and the parents believe their son or daughter is passionate about something the ante will have to be upped. Maybe now an extra lesson per month will be needed, equipment costs will rise, and shoes will start to wear out. Instead of two camps a year locally one will be replaced by one overseas.

At age 12 a strong junior should be playing at least 10 hours a week. The frequency of lessons will increase, strings will start to break (another $45 every two weeks). Multiple rackets will be needed, and shoes won't last more than two months.

By age 14 (now 2011) the junior player is dominating the junior tournaments. He or she is ranked #1 in the 14 and unders and the 16 and unders. Lessons and group lessons are taking place almost everyday after school.

Also a student gym membership has been added. Once a month a personal trainer keeps tabs on the kids' progress (gym membership $1,000, trainer $900). Now in the summer the junior goes to a tennis academy in Florida for a month ($8,000).

In Florida the player gets his butt kicked by the academy kids. The lack of competition in Bermuda is evident.

It's time to go off to boarding school or tennis school (2012 prices per year close to $50,000 annually). Strings are now being broken every 3 hours of play. As a 15-year-old playing 25 hours a week keeping up with shoes, string, and rackets is tough.

By 16 years of age the budding tennis player has earned a sectional U.S. ranking.

Colleges might start to pay him or her a bit of attention, but a top 10 ranking in Florida will be needed for a top 50 school to start sending letters. More tournaments will have to be played.

A coach travelling would be beneficial but will cost extra on top of board and tuition. The tournament is in another state so a hotel room will have to be paid for as well as gas money, and food (no McDonalds).

It is now 2014 and the juniors last year in high school. Head racket, and Adidas have given a preferred players price for equipment, but it is more of a token gesture. The junior has a ranking of #12 in the 18 and unders in Florida. Not bad considering the thousands of aspiring young tennis players.

A summer playing in Europe will be needed to make a final push for college. Georgia, Stanford, Florida, and USC are Universities that aren't even worth considering. They only recruit the top players in the nation, and have foreign players with ATP experience. Wake Forest University has a top 50 team in a strong ACC conference. The junior decides to go to Wake Forrest.

Freshman year starts in 2015. There are only 4 1/2 scholarships for the six starting players. The #1 and #2 players from France and Germany are on full rides. The Bermudian freshman (no longer considered a junior) is working his tail off, but unlikely to crack the starting lineup. He is rewarded a 20 per cent scholarship.

Over the next three years the scholarship and playing time will increase.

As far as aspirations to play on the tour after school more money will be needed.

In Bermuda unless you have extremely wealthy parents (better to be rich than good) the reality of us producing a player capable of winning matches in the XL Open is nonexistent.

The process of developing our junior tennis players has to be completely dismantled.

The government shouldn't have to pay out for all sports. Big business has to contribute more, and the lottery has to be looked at.[[In-content Ad]]

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