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Travel Team Program

At Gilford Hills Tennis & Fitness Club, our Travel Team program offers adult players a fun-but-focused way to take their tennis game up a notch. Drawing on the spirit of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) leagues, where teams are formed by skill level, practice regularly and travel to compete, our teams give you structured, consistent play and a community of teammates.

What is the "USTA Travel Team" Practice Schedule & Team Breakdown Why join the Travel Team? Who should consider joining? How to Join   What to Expect & Team Culture

What is the "USTA Travel Team"

The USTA Adult League (and similarly structured travel team formats) is built around teams of adult players who train together, compete against other clubs, and progress through local, sectional and national levels.

Each team is organized by skill levels (following the NTRP rating system used by the USTA). The idea: play with and against players of similar ability to maximize improvement, fun and fairness.

A travel team amplifies this by giving members regular team practices, match play away from your home courts, and the chance to represent their club in real competition. As one program puts it: “Players register and play with a team of similar-level players and compete against other clubs … with a weekly practice with a coach.”

At our club, we follow this model: you’ll have consistent mornings to train, build team cohesion, improve strategy (singles, doubles, etc.), and get match ready.



Practice Schedule & Team Breakdown

We offer the following weekly practice slots for our Travel Team groups:

  • Mondays (morning) – Team Level: 2.5
    This group is perfect for those who are newer to competitive adult team tennis. You’ll build your doubles, singles basics and match awareness in a comfortable team environment.
  • Tuesdays (morning) – Team Levels: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0
    These groups are for players who have some competitive experience and want to take the next step. You’ll focus on stronger rallying, tactical doubles & singles strategy, match-play simulation, and team cohesion leading into league matches.

Our practice schedule may vary depending on the season. While we typically hold team practices on Tuesdays during the fall season, practice days and times may change for the spring season. All schedules (including days and times) will be confirmed and communicated prior to the start of each season.



Why join the Travel Team?

  • Team atmosphere: You’ll train with your fellow team-members, build relationships, learn together and support each other, far beyond solo lessons or casual social hits.
  • Regular structure: Having a fixed morning slot every week keeps you accountable, consistent with your training and ready to bring your best.
  • Competitive play: Team tennis gives you match situations, strategy focus (doubles formations, singles tactics) and a purpose beyond hitting. That can absolutely boost your game.
  • Skill-appropriate grouping: Our levels (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0) mean you’ll be playing with others of similar ability, so the matches are challenging, enjoyable and appropriate.
  • Improvement pathway: Whether you aim to just enjoy competitive play or move toward sectional/national league matches, the Travel Team program offers a progression that mirrors the USTA model.
  • Representation & pride: Wearing the club jersey, traveling to matches, being part of something bigger than your weekly hits, it’s fun, motivating and helps you show up for yourself and the team.


Who should consider joining?

  • Adult players who already take lessons or clinics and want to deepen their commitment by adding structured team training.
  • Players comfortable with playing doubles (and often singles) and ready for match-play scenarios rather than just social or drop-in play.
  • Those who want to be part of a team, meet other motivated adults, and enjoy representing their club in a positive, spirited way.
  • Players with the following approximate skill levels (based on the USTA’s NTRP framework):
    • 2.5 Team → newer to competitive play, building confidence
    • 3.0 Team → can rally, serve with consistency, want to enhance strategy
    • 3.5 Team → solid mechanics, ready for more tactical doubles & singles work
    • 4.0 Team → strong players who compete regularly, want that “edge” training & match-consistency


How to Join  

  1. Self-rate your level: If you haven’t yet, complete the self-rating questionnaire on the USTA website to get your NTRP level.
  2. Contact Us: Reach out to the front desk or our Adult Tennis Coordinator at luis@gilfordhills.com. They will connect you with the appropriate team captain based on the level you’re interested in joining and help guide you through the next steps.
  3. Attend a try-practice: If you’re new to the team, we’ll invite you to attend one of the morning sessions to see how it feels, meet teammates and evaluate fit.
  4. Register & commit: Once you’re on the roster, practices become your weekly commitment. We ask you to be consistent, communicate availability and be ready for match-weeks.


What to Expect & Team Culture

  • Practices focus on more than technical drills: expect warm-ups, tactical drills, match-play simulations, situational doubles (and singles when appropriate), team huddles and post-practice debrief.
  • We value sportsmanship, club representation, positive attitude and improvement mindset. Wins are great, but growth, teamwork and enjoyment are our core goals. 
  • Whether you play a lot or play for fun with a competitive twist, you’ll find your people here.


Frequently asked questions


We do expect a level of commitment to matches as part of being on the team. That said, we understand that conflicts can come up due to work or personal matters. Before the season begins, players are asked to provide their availability so coaches can plan lineups accordingly.

Once the match schedule is released (prior to the start of the season), it will include all match dates, and we strongly encourage players to review it and plan ahead. If selected for a specific lineup, we expect players to make every effort to be available to compete.


Teams are structured based on USTA (NTRP) ratings, and we follow those guidelines when organizing lineups. Players with the matching rating level are always given priority (for example, 4.0 players have priority for 4.0 matches).

That said, at the coach’s discretion, players may be invited to “play up.” For example, a 3.5 player may be asked to compete on a 4.0 team if we need to complete a lineup or if the player is showing strong improvement and would benefit from the experience. This approach applies across all levels, while still maintaining fairness and consistency within each team.

We understand that life happens and it’s not always possible to attend every practice. However, consistency is important in a team environment. The coach in charge will prioritize players who regularly participate in practices, as these sessions focus on team tactics, communication, and overall cohesion.

Being present helps ensure everyone is aligned and prepared, which is key to the team’s success throughout the season.