Blackhawks basketball, Boys and girls Basketball training, coaching, games in Woking, Surrey, basketball coaching, basketball, basketball summer camp in Woking
loading page


Youth Girls 2018-19 Season

03 December, 2018

Warm greetings everybody and welcome to the new season!

Overall, it was very rewarding witnessing the huge improvement (both technically and behaviourally) most of our players made during the 2017-18 season and the fact that we are going into the new season with a total of 27 players (and growing!) on our books is very promising indeed.

We would all like to build on last season’s success, so this season will be a period of growth on all fronts. We will be asking you very soon to register for the new season so that we can align our resources accordingly.

Speaking of resources, Alex Braine-Porter has now moved across to the Boys section but Ali Strong (of WHS fame) has joined us as an assistant coach to help coaches Costa, Matt and Adrien during the Youth Wednesday sessions. More good news as Russell Fernandez has joined us as the U12s team manager. Emma Hilling will be our U14s and U13s team manager and Costas will look after the U16/7s for now.

The Saturday combined teams (U10, U12, U14 and U16) training sessions will still be held at Woking High school but for two hours only (10:30-12:30). Additional training is during Youth Wednesdays (6.30-8.30) at SJB school. The 8-8.30pm slot is reserved for scrimmage for the older girls (u12 to u16s). All training sessions do not take place during half terms, Christmas, Easter and summer holidays unless otherwise notified.

We have reduced the annual fees slightly for this season to entice more girls to experiment and fall in love with basketball.

In terms of competitions, we are looking to participate in the Surrey and Bracknell leagues as well as in the All-Girls Tournaments in Woking (supported by the Surrey Basketball Association) and in as many age groups as we can muster. Please speak with your team manager or coach for more details.

A victorious U12s team with coach CostaA victorious U12s team with coach Costa

Safeguarding is a priority

All of our coaches and team managers are DBS-certified, so be assured that your daughters are safe with us! 

GDPR made a big splash in 2018 May 25th and we appreciate its importance. Rest assured that we do not hold any personal data (parents or players) on a website or anywhere else for longer than is necessary to conduct our business as a club. Action photos or videos of participating players and supporters may well be displayed on our websites but not without your permission.

These are the coaches and team managers for the 2018-19 season. At your service.

Emma Hilling - TM for U14 and U13sEmma Hilling - TM for U14 and U13s

Head coach Costas Rakitzis

Coach Matt RossiniCoach Matt Rossini

Coach Adrien SherryCoach Adrien Sherry

Coach Ali StrongCoach Ali Strong

Russell Fernandes - TM for U12s

However, the overriding factor will be the players’ regular attendance at practice sessions and at games. Basketball is a team sport and all individual players have a responsibility to their team. 

This concept must be understood at all levels.

If you or your daughter cannot buy into this concept, it might be best to let us know from the very start as we, in turn, cannot commit to league participation fees and court bookings if the players’ commitment is patchy.

We, the team of volunteers, are very excited at the prospect of providing our young girls with the opportunity to flourish both as individuals and as team players in the sport they love.

As always, we also look forward to an extremely important element: the parents’ support and cooperation. So, we are always happy to listen to any suggestions but kindly bear in mind that, in the Google spirit of management, all suggestions will be read and considered but not all will necessarily be implemented.

Let’s have ourselves a memorable season!

Yours in basketball,

Coach Costas