ITF England National Team: Next Stages of the Selection Process & Key Dates

Following the conclusion of the ITF England National Championships and National Team Selection Event, the High Performance Programme (HPP) Coaching Team has outlined the next stages of the selection process, including the upcoming Second Selection Event, key December decision dates, and how formal team offers will be issued.

First and foremost, thank you to every athlete, instructor, and parent who took part, as well as the organisers, umpires, officials, volunteers, and supporters whose hard work behind the scenes made the Championships possible. The commitment, preparation, and effort demonstrated on the mats throughout the competition were greatly appreciated by the HPP Coaching Team.

Performance Reviews and Selection Discussions

Over the coming weeks, the HPP Coaching Team will hold a series of meetings to review performances and discuss potential National Team selections.

While the National Championships serve as the primary indicator for selection, they are not the only factor considered. The coaching team will evaluate the full body of evidence available, including:

• Performances at the National Championships

• Wider competition results

• Consistency and technical development

• Other relevant selection criteria

  
  

Some selection decisions may be reached directly from existing evidence, while others will require an additional opportunity to observe athletes in a controlled assessment environment.

Second Selection Event - Sunday, 6th December 2026

A small, targeted group of athletes will be invited to attend a closed second assessment:

• Date: Sunday, 6th December 2026

• Time: 3:00 PM

• Venue: Proaction Academy, Northampton, NN4 7DY

• Attendance: Strictly by invitation only

Why Athletes May Be Invited

Invitations to the 6th December session may be issued for several practical reasons, including:

• The coaching team requiring a further opportunity to assess an athlete before reaching a final decision.

• An athlete having been unable to attend the National Championships due to a previously notified and accepted exceptional reason.

• The need to arrange a specific head-to-head match-up between athletes to assist with direct comparison.

Assessment Format

The event will be attended by all eight HPP coaches, supported by one Jury President and one Referee.

To maintain a pure evaluation environment, there will be no judges, and no official results or bout decisions will be awarded. The purpose of the event is purely to provide the coaching team with further evidence to support the selection process.

Important Note: Receiving an invitation to the 6th December event does not indicate that an athlete has been selected. Equally, athletes who do not receive an invitation should not assume they have been unsuccessful. Every invitation is made strictly to help the coaching team reach the best possible decisions for the ITF England National Team.

Selection Decisions and Key December Timetable

Following the Second Selection Event, the HPP Coaching Team anticipates working to the following schedule:

Date / Window	Selection Milestone
Sunday, 6th December	Second Selection Event takes place at Proaction Academy, Northampton.
7th – 8th December	Final coaching assessments completed; unsuccessful athletes notified via their Heads of Affiliate.
3 days post-notification	Deadline for unsuccessful athletes to submit a formal appeal.
Following 2 days	Submitted appeals reviewed and final decisions reached.
Approx. 11th - 13th December	Successful selections communicated to Heads of Affiliate (subject to completion of the appeals process).
2 days post-affiliate notice	Successful athletes receive their formal offers directly from the HPP Team.

Please note: These dates are indicative and may be adjusted slightly if required to complete the selection and appeals process fairly.

Offers of National Team Selection

Successful athletes will be informed of their selection through their Head of Affiliate first, who will share the news with the athlete. Two days later, the athlete will receive their formal offer directly from the HPP Team and will be required to accept their place in writing.

Before being asked to formally accept an offer, athletes will receive:

• A breakdown of predicted costs associated with their National Team commitments.

• The England National Team Athlete Agreement, setting out the responsibilities and expectations of selection, for review and signature.

• Any additional relevant information required to make an informed decision.

The coaching team wants every athlete to understand both the privilege and the commitment involved in representing England before formally accepting their place.

Moving Forward into 2027

Selection for the England National Team is a major achievement, and the coaching team is committed to making fair, considered, and informed decisions while maintaining a transparent process for everyone involved.

Thank you to all athletes, parents, and instructors for your patience while this process is completed properly. Regardless of selection outcomes, every athlete is encouraged to stay committed to their development—the HPP is designed to support both those selected to represent England and those working toward that ambition in the future.

Looking ahead to 2027, draft dates for next year’s HPP events have already been shared across the ITF England social media pages so athletes, parents, and instructors can begin planning ahead. Further details on individual events will follow in due course.

For selection queries, contact the High Performance Programme at nationalteam@itfengland.com.