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TEAM HAWKER squads
Mission statement
Team Hawker Squads are first and foremost about training juniors for competitive tennis, but I'm committed to working closely with all our squad members, not just to help them achieve their goals in tennis, but also to use the sport to help them develop character traits and life skills that will help them get the very most out of every aspect of their lives.
Team Hawker Squads
These squads are suitable for juniors who play at least 2-3 times per week, and compete regularly (minimum twice a month), both in our internal competitions, and also in external LTA tournaments. We have squads for most ages and levels. Please check our junior programme page for the latest timetable. If you would like a free assessment and chat, please contact Nick.
Smaller Groups and Squad Pathway
The size limit for a Team Hawker Squad is 8 players on 3 courts, though often the groups are smaller than this. We also currently have a 'B' squad for high level but less committed players, or lower ability players keen to commit strongly to tennis and progress into the main squads.
Our highest level squad is called the 'Team Hawker Top 8', for our Top 8 players, and we've often had national level players involved in this squad over recent years. Next is our Team Hawker U16's squad, and our Team Hawker U14's squad, and we currently also have a Team Hawker U11 squad.
Why are Team Hawker players so successful?
Why are our Hawker Jets teams consistently amongst the most successful clubs in Surrey when it comes to team competition, and why do Team Hawker members achieve so much success individually, often against players who train much more than they do?
The main thing that stands us apart from most clubs and academies is the individual attention all the players recieve with their personal tennis journey and game-style. I go above and beyond to help players maximise their potential through understanding their personal strengths, individual gamestyles, and their unique personality/character when competing.
Beyond that, it's simply about a very strong focus on performing in competition, from superior preparation to all things tactical, mental, and emotional.
Team Hawker Squads - New Enquiries
If you have any questions, or would like a free assessment and chat, please contact Nick.
SQUAD PROGRESS REPORT CARDS
Useful information to get the most from them
Squad players are rated at the end of each term, on the 5 key areas of tennis development. Ratings are based on what they show when they play matches. What they show in practice/lessons doesn’t have any bearing on the report card ratings, because the competition environment is much more challenging and is what we train the players to be able to perform in. What they show in competition therefore gives a very clear indication of where their level is at.
For this reason, players who I haven’t been able to watch compete regularly during the latter part of the term can’t be properly assessed, and won’t be included on the Report Card.
Players report card scores relate to their own personal development as a tennis player, and won’t necessarily reflect what would happen if they played each other in a match tomorrow, especially when age gaps are involved. Do also remember that Orange is easier than Green, and Green easier than Yellow, which means it’s very likely that players scores will go down when they transition up a level.
Putting Report Card scores into perspective
40 is the maximum score achievable. One extra point is awarded if a player has the maximum score in 3 or more of the 5 sections. Some areas are impossible to achieve higher scores until players develop physically in their teens. As a guideline, a junior player who is nationally ranked and has ambitions to play pro tennis, should be recording a score of around 27-30 at age 12, a score of around 33-36 at age 14, and that would increase to high 30's by age 16.
The goal each term is for a player to improve their score by 1. If they consistently achieve this over many years, they will become very strong tennis players by their late teens as a minimum.
progress REPORT CARD explained section by section
Progress Report Cards
Much of the key information for each section is included on the report card itself, so the sections below are in addition to the information that is already on the card
Section 1 - Playing ability
This is aimed at developing a complete player who has all the shots, and is able to use them effectively in competition. The scaling up of how many points are awarded for what, is a guide to the order in which a player should be trying to develop each aspect. More specifically, players should begin by becoming consistent and not making too many errors, followed by developing the ability to use topspin on their shots whilst maintaining consistency. Following this is the development of more power and the ability to hit attacking shots whilst still keeping the errors down Finally, players should complete their game by developing the ability to use slice shots effectively (including drop shots), and to move up to the net and be effective at finishing points with volleys and smashes. I will always make it clear to the player what area in this section is letting them down and needs work. Players won't always develop these areas in order, so if a player hasn't developed power on their shots, but shows good skills in coming to the net, this will be reflected in their overall score in this section.
Section 2 - Footwork, movement, and energy
This is very well explained on the report card itself, with 7 different aspects of this area highlighted. The main point to emphasise is that all these aspects need to be worked on to develop this area properly. Just being good at one thing isn’t going to get a high mark in this section. For example, someone who might be very fast but not use side steps/split steps ect won’t get as high a mark as perhaps it seems they should. Likewise, someone who is technically very good with these tennis specific movements, but not so fast from a to b, might get a higher mark than it seems they should.
Section 3 - Serve
The serve is technically the hardest shot to learn in tennis. This area marks technique used in the pressure of competition, along with effectiveness and consistency. What is going on with a player's second serve will be very important to their mark as well. Does the technique hold up or do they opt for something that feels safer? Can they effectively use the kick serve, or have they not yet developed the confidence to do it in matches?
Section 4 - Tennis intelligence
It's worth mentioning the link to confidence in this section. Players who are lacking confidence often struggle to play effectively on the more important points, and that can be reflected in this section. Also, it's important to emphasise the word 'basic' where it says on the report card ‘understanding and using basic tactics effectively in a match’. The point is high scores are achievable in this section without having to be some kind of tactical mastermind on the court.
Sometimes, a player will appear to be executing sound tactics, but how do we know they are clear on what they are doing? Asking a player what their tactics were for a match they just played is the best way to get a clear idea of how well they are using their tactical skills and knowledge during competition!
Section 5 - Intensity
This is the only section where ANY player of any age/ability has the potential to be as good as Nadal and Federer! Maintaining focus, staying calm, not reacting badly in matches are skills that can be learnt, true, but there is no initial skill level requirement to be good at these things, and so once again high scores and the maximum score are within reach of all squad players if they put their mind to it.
And finally...
A player can tell how close they are to moving up a point in any of the sections by noticing where their name is positioned within any particular section. If there is more than one column for the same point score, then the further to the right you are, the closer you are to moving up, and vice versa regards your name appearing further to the left. Ask Nick if this is not clear!