Under 15                                Squad Report AGM 2009

The U15’s had another very successful season winning the South West team challenge event and ending up 9th out of 12 in the National competition. The full team came second in the SW County League.

My aim this season was to challenge a strong squad of singles players and try to help them develop their games. To this end we tried to devote part of each squad session on mixed and level doubles. The coaches were trying to develop more attacking tactics and some basic strategies of teamwork. I also wanted the stronger players to be more challenged in matches and learn to dominate games when playing with weaker squad members.

10 boys and 10 girls played in matches. Our top 5 boys did not lose any singles matches, however a last minute substitution due to illness and weak performance in the level doubles against Devon meant that we lost that match (the first time for most of this team) and came second in the league. The girls came up against some very powerful opposition from the better counties and I was pleased that they managed to win some tight matches particularly in the close encounter with Avon. I was pleased that the mixed doubles tactics improved and that some of the girls actually started to enjoy these games!

I hope the squad felt that they started to develop as a team and that they noted the spirit with which Devon fought to win crucial doubles matches. I am sure they will follow up the promise that Sophie Parkes (our captain) gave to the Devon side after their first loss “well done, but just wait until next year”!

Congratulations to Dan Clark and Rachel Wakeley for winning the most improved squad player awards.

I would like to thank Brenda Fryer for taking the team to the national finals at short notice and all the coaches who helped develop the players this season.

Chris Fenwick

Under 15 Squad Manager