Accidental Northwest Ringer Squad

[Lazerus]

I'm starting a team that unfortunately is filled with several strong ringers.

All of my guys have never played USTA leagues or tourneys but can compete here in the Northwest in 4.5s no problem.

So, the coordinator gentleman denied us a 4.5 team and put us at 4.0.

I've saved the emails so that in the future I can show him and the DC when I get blacklisted or DQ'd multiple times that I tried to tell them we're a 4.5 team and would dominate the 4.0s or be a normal 4.5 team.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun and we'll be competitive but my thought is with all the 3.5s that got bumped I have a feeling we'll really be creaming these new 4.0 guys and I DON'T want a bad reputation. I don't want my guys to be in a wierd spot either and feel like they gotta ease up.

I've told everyone to just play and let the computer do its thing but what happens when your entire crew gets DQ'd?

I know in my heart and gut I feel big time drama is brewing up ahead for us.

Ugh.

[Jracer77]

I'm starting a team that unfortunately is filled with several strong ringers.

All of my guys have never played USTA leagues or tourneys but can compete here in the Northwest in 4.5s no problem.

So, the coordinator gentleman denied us a 4.5 team and put us at 4.0.

I've saved the emails so that in the future I can show him and the DC when I get blacklisted or DQ'd multiple times that I tried to tell them we're a 4.5 team and would dominate the 4.0s or be a normal 4.5 team.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun and we'll be competitive but my thought is with all the 3.5s that got bumped I have a feeling we'll really be creaming these new 4.0 guys and I DON'T want a bad reputation. I don't want my guys to be in a wierd spot either and feel like they gotta ease up.

I've told everyone to just play and let the computer do its thing but what happens when your entire crew gets DQ'd?

I know in my heart and gut I feel big time drama is brewing up ahead for us.

Ugh.

Well maybe if the ringers had self rated as 4.5's the coordinator would have felt a little more obligated to allow you in as a 4.5 team.

[LuckyR]

I'm starting a team that unfortunately is filled with several strong ringers.

All of my guys have never played USTA leagues or tourneys but can compete here in the Northwest in 4.5s no problem.

So, the coordinator gentleman denied us a 4.5 team and put us at 4.0.

I've saved the emails so that in the future I can show him and the DC when I get blacklisted or DQ'd multiple times that I tried to tell them we're a 4.5 team and would dominate the 4.0s or be a normal 4.5 team.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun and we'll be competitive but my thought is with all the 3.5s that got bumped I have a feeling we'll really be creaming these new 4.0 guys and I DON'T want a bad reputation. I don't want my guys to be in a wierd spot either and feel like they gotta ease up.

I've told everyone to just play and let the computer do its thing but what happens when your entire crew gets DQ'd?

I know in my heart and gut I feel big time drama is brewing up ahead for us.

Ugh.


Well, whatever you do, don't have them tank to be "nice" to the poor 5uckers you run into. That will just perpetuate the mistake the USTA guy made. Best to acknowledge to all what is going on, shelack the opposition then reapply to the USTA, eventually even they will get the message. That will preserve your rep.

[harryz]

I'm in Portland and would be interested in a "try out"

Harry

[Lazerus]

Well maybe if the ringers had self rated as 4.5's the coordinator would have felt a little more obligated to allow you in as a 4.5 team.

I asked her that, his words were that 'we had no evidence of USTA wins at 4.5, I'm not wasting my time on a team that thinks they're 4.5 with no proof.'

Its not that easy to get approved for a 4.5 team.

I tried all I could do to convince.

Anyways, we'll get DQd up after a baked bagel festival.

[iankogan]

All of my guys have never played USTA leagues or tourneys but can compete here in the Northwest in 4.5s no problem.

Just curious: how do you know that?

[gameboy]

Seriously, how do you know you are going to blow through the 4.0 opponents? It is not like you have a bunch of recent Div I, II grads as they have to rate themselves as 4.5.

Sounds like you are just blowing a lot of hot air.

What evidence do you have that you have a team full of 4.5's if they have never played in USTA before?

[Lazerus]

Seriously, how do you know you are going to blow through the 4.0 opponents? It is not like you have a bunch of recent Div I, II grads as they have to rate themselves as 4.5.

Sounds like you are just blowing a lot of hot air.

What evidence do you have that you have a team full of 4.5's if they have never played in USTA before?

My guys will blow thru bumped up 3.5s.

I guess we'll just have to prove it.

Hot air?

Not really. I just know what I have and what I tried to do and was denied, and I know I'm going to be confronted by a bunch of whining schmucks over this once we get on the court. I've seen how people agonize here over and over about ringers. I mean I realize this is for the world championship of hack tennis and everyone takes it so serious and gets their feelings hurt if they don't win.

I'm a top 4.0 and I've found several guys over the past year that played competitively years ago and havn't lost many steps and beat me pretty handily. My guys are clearly above 4.0. but not necessarily Nationals material for 4.5 but I guarantee they can hang with other regionally mid tier 4.5 teams just fine.

I'm not here to start arguments. I'm just voicing my pre-mature concerns on how to handle being labled when I tried in all sincerity to plead for a 4.5 team.

No worries.

Out.

[lethalphorce]

I'm not here to start arguments. I'm just voicing my pre-mature concerns on how to handle being labled when I tried in all sincerity to plead for a 4.5 team.


If you guys do smoke the other 4.0 teams, just tell the other captains that you tried to get into the 4.5 league, but the league coordinator wouldn't let you. I'm sure that would redirect any ill-will away from you & your teammates.

[10sjunkie]

Why is the coordinator telling you what level to play? You are the captain. Sign up as a 4.5 team.

[Lame_Backhand]

I'm starting a team that unfortunately is filled with several strong ringers.

All of my guys have never played USTA leagues or tourneys but can compete here in the Northwest in 4.5s no problem.

So, the coordinator gentleman denied us a 4.5 team and put us at 4.0.

I've saved the emails so that in the future I can show him and the DC when I get blacklisted or DQ'd multiple times that I tried to tell them we're a 4.5 team and would dominate the 4.0s or be a normal 4.5 team.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun and we'll be competitive but my thought is with all the 3.5s that got bumped I have a feeling we'll really be creaming these new 4.0 guys and I DON'T want a bad reputation. I don't want my guys to be in a wierd spot either and feel like they gotta ease up.

I've told everyone to just play and let the computer do its thing but what happens when your entire crew gets DQ'd?

I know in my heart and gut I feel big time drama is brewing up ahead for us.

Ugh.


I am trying to understand why a coordinator would not let you setup a 4.5 team? At what NTRP level did your team members self-rate? It seems if your team members self rate at 4.5, how could a coordinator deny you setting up a team at that level?

I guess if you guys are as good as you say, you will probably blow through the local 4.0 league. If you do blow through the LL, the unfortunate piece is that your self-rated players will probably get DQ'ed and their match wins will turn to loses...... As someone mentioned earlier, after you beat a team badly, just try to explain that you attempted to have a 4.5 team, but were denied.

[Lazerus]

I explained why they would not let me have a 4.5 team.

Apparently they don't allow just anyone since its so competitive.

There is no 'registering'.

Its, ask for a team, give them your roster and they approve or disapprove.

Me and a few 4.0s were the only ones with public TennisLink damage.

My strong no name guys have no TL data.

So, that being said coordinators aren't letting teams with no 4.5 history into 4.5 league. Seems fair enough. But I guess I'm just self conscious about being labled Dr. Ringer because I've seen how league folks get talked about behind their back and I just hate having a bad rep.

Anyhoo, thanks for the responses. I did not mean to disparage or berate us 4.0s low lifes. I'm one of them.

:)

Oh, to the gentleman that asked for a tryout, I'm not revealing my identity here or making myself public. I see what gets done to those that do and its pretty damn ugly. I'm not up for stake burnings, and I already have 20+ guys for the team. Thanks.

[10sjunkie]

Is this a USTA spring league team? If so, it's not up to the coordinator to "allow" you to play at 4.5. Just create a team online in TennisLink and play at that level. Also, why didn't your ringers just self-rate at 4.5 if that is where they think they need to be?

[OrangePower]

^^^^

Yes, I am also confused by this. Maybe it's a section specific thing?

In my section, players without a computer rating have to self-rate themselves. That then limits what teams they can join (can join team at same or higher level but not at lower level).

And in terms of creating new teams, captains just go ahead and create a team online at whatever level they want, and then that team becomes available for individual players to join.

Coordinators only get involved later in the process, when it's time to create the schedules for the season. This is typically a month or two after teams have been created. Coordinators can theoretically at this point contact captains and potentially juggle things around if they see funny stuff (like a team with no players, or a 4.5 team with all 3.5 players), but I've never actually seen that done.

[Tennisman912]

Lazerus,

Hey,

You won't be stake burned IMHO by anyone with some common sense. You tried to rate at the level you thought you belonged at and they wouldn't let you. I hope your team does really well and a lot of people complain. They won't be complaining about you, just another example of how the USTA drops the ball time and again and maybe they will learn from it (not likely).

But I do understand why they wouldn't let just anyone jump straight to 4.5 without any league experience. In the vast majority of cases, they won't be any where near 4.5 and thus are being conservative. Truth be told, most 4.5s have played seriously in tournaments or college tennis at some time in the past but are just older now. Most have a lot of competitive experience. The chances of someone (let alone almost a whole team) never having played league or tournament tennis before who are going to be immediately competitive at 4.5 is very, very low IMHO.

Also, you said there is no one even rated 4.5 who is playing on the team ( you said you were a 4.0, my mistake earlier as I had assumed you were rated 4.5). If I were a league coordinator, I must admit I wouldn't want a team of players with little or no competitive experience in 4.5 either. You know how many people "think" they are a top 4.0 or 3.5 or whatever? Not saying it isn't true just that I hear those statements so often I am a bit skeptical until I see them in action or play with them.

Having said that, I don't see how they won't let your team at least play a match in front of the league coordinator so he can at least take a look if you are really insistent (except for the likelihood of this in the grand scheme of things).

I hope you kick butt. Best of luck. I hope you report back how your team is doing.

TM

[Lazerus]

Thanks Tennisman.

All of the comments in the past few posts have been very good. Dead on comments.

Again, its not how it works in my area. Teams have to be pre-approved.

So, my players cannot self rate until I get a team # and then they'll rate at 4.0.

Anyhoo, I'm gonna quit worrying. I just know I have a very strong team and we'll keep it at that and have fun. We're not interested in winning usta leagues and paperweights. We're interested in having fun, light hearted competition, and making new tennis friends and not enemies.

That said, does anyone here thing TennisOne is worth $79.00?

I saw it mentioned here earlier and I'm curious. I have a spreadsheet and thats really all I need for now. But if TO is cool, maybe its worth it.

Thanks ya'll.

[SJS]

That said, does anyone here thing TennisOne is worth $79.00?

I saw it mentioned here earlier and I'm curious. I have a spreadsheet and thats really all I need for now. But if TO is cool, maybe its worth it.

Thanks ya'll.

The etennis team management part of TennisOne is free. It's not perfect but I use it for the teams I captain.

[gameboy]

OK, let me see if I get this...

Your have a team made up mostly of 4.0's and "strong 4.0s" with a sprinkling of possible 4.5's.

Sounds like a typical 4.0 team to me...

[all3ofus]

Thanks Tennisman.

All of the comments in the past few posts have been very good. Dead on comments.

Again, its not how it works in my area. Teams have to be pre-approved.

So, my players cannot self rate until I get a team # and then they'll rate at 4.0.

Anyhoo, I'm gonna quit worrying. I just know I have a very strong team and we'll keep it at that and have fun. We're not interested in winning usta leagues and paperweights. We're interested in having fun, light hearted competition, and making new tennis friends and not enemies.

That said, does anyone here thing TennisOne is worth $79.00?

I saw it mentioned here earlier and I'm curious. I have a spreadsheet and thats really all I need for now. But if TO is cool, maybe its worth it.

Thanks ya'll.

Hey Laz,

About the tennis one, I just played a match (more like I got played) with a senior editor for that magazine or whatever it is called.. Anyways he was telling about some free software you get when you sign up. He also said you could sign up for free for 1 month and if did not like it they would not bill you. So I said what the hell and signed up, it has been only 2 days but info is good. Just thought I would give you my 2cents...

[autumn_leaf]

My guys will blow thru bumped up 3.5s.


I'm a top 4.0 and I've found several guys over the past year that played competitively years ago and havn't lost many steps and beat me pretty handily. My guys are clearly above 4.0. but not necessarily Nationals material for 4.5 but I guarantee they can hang with other regionally mid tier 4.5 teams just fine.



what by chance did they play? there should be records of tournament brackets online if it's not that long ago. or if they played in college the schools will have w/l records as well.

as other's have said, state what you tried to do before the match starts with the opponent captain so there will be no ill feelings except towards the coordinator. other than that, have fun destroying people :twisted:

[D. Net Tricks]

the free team management application from tennis one is a pretty handy tool for team management. beats the heck out of the two programs that my current teams are using.

[tom10s]

tennisone is waste of time for team management imo.

[raiden031]

I kinda agree with the League Coordinator. From their point of view, you are more than likely a bunch of Reverse Sandbaggers (tm) trying to play at 4.5, when you don't belong. If you truly do belong at 4.5, then let your presence in the 4.0 division inspire your oppponents to get better by facing some quality players who can show them how the game is played.

[Lazerus]

OK, let me see if I get this...

Your have a team made up mostly of 4.0's and "strong 4.0s" with a sprinkling of possible 4.5's.

Sounds like a typical 4.0 team to me...

Yeah, for the most part.

I just have some guys that are very strong 4.5s that will possibly raise eyebrows.

I know my post is sort of silly - how can one tell that a player is a 4.5 if they have no TL records?

Not all good tennis players play USTA tourneys or leagues.

Anyhoo, thanks again...looking forward to the season!

Laz

[raiden031]

Yeah, for the most part.

I just have some guys that are very strong 4.5s that will possibly raise eyebrows.

I know my post is sort of silly - how can one tell that a player is a 4.5 if they have no TL records?

Not all good tennis players play USTA tourneys or leagues.

Anyhoo, thanks again...looking forward to the season!

Laz

Can you do us a favor and revive this thread at the end of the season to see if you were right. I'm really curious to see what happens.

[Ken Honecker]

Me too as an unrated player myself who once was "good".

[J011yroger]

Sounds cool, you kind of understand where they are coming from when you say I have 2 4.0s and 18 unrated players with no records who are really 4.5s to play on my team.

When does spring league start for you guys?

Hopefully you can whip some ***, and lay an "I told you so" on the coordinator.

Keep us updated.

J

[KSJ1979]

Thanks Tennisman.

All of the comments in the past few posts have been very good. Dead on comments.

Again, its not how it works in my area. Teams have to be pre-approved.

So, my players cannot self rate until I get a team # and then they'll rate at 4.0.

Anyhoo, I'm gonna quit worrying. I just know I have a very strong team and we'll keep it at that and have fun. We're not interested in winning usta leagues and paperweights. We're interested in having fun, light hearted competition, and making new tennis friends and not enemies.

That said, does anyone here thing TennisOne is worth $79.00?

I saw it mentioned here earlier and I'm curious. I have a spreadsheet and thats really all I need for now. But if TO is cool, maybe its worth it.

Thanks ya'll.

A lot of captains in my area swear by Tennis one.....seems to work pretty well....

[hasema]

Can you post your results?

I would love to see the outcome.

[shanx]

Can you post your results?

I would love to see the outcome.

don't count on seeing any results.

lazerus = joeldali, so this post was probably just bogus since he most likely doesn't live in the northwest.