Any other USTA Captains do this?

[Unforced Terrors]

Been captaining teams for 3 years now and it's very satisfying though I think I may do too much.

My Voluntary Captain Duties (in addition to reserving courts and confirming matches with opposing teams):
Analysis of all opponents and their lineup tendencies (Using Tennis Record for reference and background in Statistics)
Giving all my players a decent amount of matches while still fielding strong enough lines to win
A Team Blog with recaps of all matches with some clips
Regular practice sessions when possible
Team bonding over drinks and food
Even this Playoff Hype Video (I know the quality isn't great. Just wanted to make something for the guys)
Season Recap

Any other Captains out there do similar things?

 

[Stretchy Man]

No. I just try to remember to bring a can of balls and scoresheet.

 

[OnTheLine]

Now feeling like an inferior captain.
Yes I scout other teams to create lineups. I also try to balance decent lineups with balanced playing time ....and yes we have weekly practice .... but beyond that ... no.

 

[ShaunS]

Now feeling like an inferior captain.
Yes I scout other teams to create lineups. I also try to balance decent lineups with balanced playing time ....and yes we have weekly practice .... but beyond that ... no.

No hype video, and you call yourself a captain? Shameful.

 

[TagUrIt]

You have definitely gone above and beyond when it comes to being a captain. Best of luck in the playoffs. Nice video btw

 

[Jack the Hack]

In the past, I've done all of those things as a captain as well, minus the videos (I took pictures instead). Sounds like you are doing all the right things, and the team responded well (turning losing seasons into a perfect undefeated record). Congrats!

 

[Unforced Terrors]

Thanks for the encouragement! @Jack the Hack and @TagUrIt

 

[dsp9753]

Awesome job. You are the captain I wish I was motivated to be. All I do is send out the entire seasons lineup within the first week or so and send text reminders so people dont forget to show up.

 

[norcal]

That video is great!

 

[Stretchy Man]

Just curious. Has anyone ever wished their captain did more than just sending texts and bringing the balls?

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Been captaining teams for 3 years now and it's very satisfying though I think I may do too much.

My Voluntary Captain Duties (in addition to reserving courts and confirming matches with opposing teams):
Analysis of all opponents and their lineup tendencies (Using Tennis Record for reference and background in Statistics)
Giving all my players a decent amount of matches while still fielding strong enough lines to win
A Team Blog with recaps of all matches with some clips
Regular practice sessions when possible
Team bonding over drinks and food
Even this Playoff Hype Video (I know the quality isn't great. Just wanted to make something for the guys)
Season Recap

Any other Captains out there do similar things?

that. was. epic.

i'm moving to LA tomorrow hoping to get a walk-on spot in the qualifying rounds to get into the main draw..., to get a spot on your your team.

i captained for 2y, and the highlights (as capt) were giving hysterical (according to my team), recaps of the matches, particularly the nicknames i gave everyone (including our opponents)... but that vid was next level even got the mountains to match the words in the song

 

[milk of amnesia]

Just curious. Has anyone ever wished their captain did more than just sending texts and bringing the balls?

Actually, what you do is all I want from a captain. Anymore and I would be turned off and look elsewhere. I know some people who build their social lives around leagues, but that's not my style.

 

[WhiteOut]

Congrats and nice vid.

I don't do a blog, but I send a short email summary each week along with the next week's proposed lineup, then adjust that proposed lineup based on who confirms w/in 24 hrs. I send a reminder text to the confirmed starters on the morning of the match, which gives me time to fill in a last minute sub if someone winds up having an issue with work or whatever.

I've also started sending the post-season dates at the beginning of the summer, and basically make them part of my signature in each weekly email. Last three seasons in a row, a few of my top guys were not available for playoff matches and our team got bounced, dammit. So everyone needs to schedule their weddings, anniversaries, vacations, baptisms, etc *after* the freaking season!!!

 

[CosmosMpower]

I don't expect all that from my captain the only thing I expect is to put the best possible lineup out there and stop playing bad players and throwing away lines especially in playoffs and against tough opponents so people don't get their feelings hurt because they didn't get to play enough.

I do my own scouting of teams/opponents because I want the best chance to win.

 

[Unforced Terrors]

Congrats and nice vid.

I don't do a blog, but I send a short email summary each week along with the next week's proposed lineup, then adjust that proposed lineup based on who confirms w/in 24 hrs. I send a reminder text to the confirmed starters on the morning of the match, which gives me time to fill in a last minute sub if someone winds up having an issue with work or whatever.

I've also started sending the post-season dates at the beginning of the summer, and basically make them part of my signature in each weekly email. Last three seasons in a row, a few of my top guys were not available for playoff matches and our team got bounced, dammit. So everyone needs to schedule their weddings, anniversaries, vacations, baptisms, etc *after* the freaking season!!!

I experienced similar last year. 2 of my top guys were out of the postseason with a wedding and out of state job interviews. Tough to win at playoffs without your best players.

 

[JordanWinning]

Been captaining teams for 3 years now and it's very satisfying though I think I may do too much.

My Voluntary Captain Duties (in addition to reserving courts and confirming matches with opposing teams):
Analysis of all opponents and their lineup tendencies (Using Tennis Record for reference and background in Statistics)
Giving all my players a decent amount of matches while still fielding strong enough lines to win
A Team Blog with recaps of all matches with some clips
Regular practice sessions when possible
Team bonding over drinks and food
Even this Playoff Hype Video (I know the quality isn't great. Just wanted to make something for the guys)
Season Recap

Any other Captains out there do similar things?

That's awesome! Random question: did you guys ever play at scholl canyon? I think I recognize the Chris Evans stunt double with a mustache lol

 

[Unforced Terrors]

That's awesome! Random question: did you guys ever play at scholl canyon? I think I recognize the Chris Evans stunt double with a mustache lol

Some of us do play at Scholl Canyon!

 

[OnTheLine]

No hype video, and you call yourself a captain? Shameful.

even worse ... I don't do team uniforms, barely do team colors, I don't even take pictures ..... the absolute worst? I don't drink beer

 

[kevrol]

even worse ... I don't do team uniforms, barely do team colors, I don't even take pictures ..... the absolute worst? I don't drink beer

Wine?

 

[OnTheLine]

Wine?

Iced tea?

 

[Unforced Terrors]

Iced tea?

Arnold Palmers?

 

[OnTheLine]

Arnold Palmers?

I am boring ... .just tea, black tea, no sugar, no lemon, just ice.

 

[PBODY99]

@Unforced Terrors
Great work. I take the "beauty shot" at the start of the match for each court & keep a stash of emergency supplies..

 

[Cindysphinx]

Been captaining teams for 3 years now and it's very satisfying though I think I may do too much.

My Voluntary Captain Duties (in addition to reserving courts and confirming matches with opposing teams):
Analysis of all opponents and their lineup tendencies (Using Tennis Record for reference and background in Statistics)
Giving all my players a decent amount of matches while still fielding strong enough lines to win
A Team Blog with recaps of all matches with some clips
Regular practice sessions when possible
Team bonding over drinks and food
Even this Playoff Hype Video (I know the quality isn't great. Just wanted to make something for the guys)
Season Recap

Any other Captains out there do similar things?

I'm back in the captaining game after a hiatus, and I have captained about 12 years total.

I feel like I have run the gamut. In the early years, I was ambitious and wanted to field good teams. My goal was to give my teammates the best chance to win any given match. I put effort into figuring out successful doubles pairings, played everyone but weaker players played a bit less, considered things like pairing players who preferred opposite receiving sides, thinking about whether to pair weak with weak and strong with strong, yada yada yada. I did spirited match re-caps and looked for opportunities for team building (although I gave up on team practices years ago because it never worked).

Now, my players and I have been playing USTA for a very long time. We know each other, and most of us are capable of adjusting to a new partner on the fly. If we advance, fine. If not, who cares? In our area, league play is year-round, so if you don't advance another league will be starting in about three weeks. No one's lives revolve around USTA anymore, so we're all pretty zen.

I think you should do whatever you're willing to do as captain and that's it. If I had it to do all over again, I would probably be a bit less focused on winning. It caused a lot of stress and didn't get me anywhere.

 

[TagUrIt]

Since were sharing captain stories, and was asked to be the captain (didn’t really want to be the captain because I didn’t pick the team) of a WTT league. It was a 3.5 league we had 5 ladies and 4 guys including me. Not sure I would do it again, the skill level on the team was barely 3.0 and the teams we faced weren’t 3.5 thank goodness. The most interesting thing is we took first place in the league. It means we could go to a WTT regional and compete nationally. My team wants to go, but I told them we’re not strong enough to compete at such an event. Bad captain, I know, but I was being honest and realistic. There were only two players (one girl one guy) on that team I would feel comfortable bringing to a regional and you need at least 4 to compete. If I ever do WTT again, it’ll be because I picked the team.

 

[JordanWinning]

Some of us do play at Scholl Canyon!

I caught most of one of your matches there, y'all can play! Congrats on the great season

 

[Heck]

I would want to be on your team for sure.

 

[Unforced Terrors]

I'm back in the captaining game after a hiatus, and I have captained about 12 years total.

I feel like I have run the gamut. In the early years, I was ambitious and wanted to field good teams. My goal was to give my teammates the best chance to win any given match. I put effort into figuring out successful doubles pairings, played everyone but weaker players played a bit less, considered things like pairing players who preferred opposite receiving sides, thinking about whether to pair weak with weak and strong with strong, yada yada yada. I did spirited match re-caps and looked for opportunities for team building (although I gave up on team practices years ago because it never worked).

Now, my players and I have been playing USTA for a very long time. We know each other, and most of us are capable of adjusting to a new partner on the fly. If we advance, fine. If not, who cares? In our area, league play is year-round, so if you don't advance another league will be starting in about three weeks. No one's lives revolve around USTA anymore, so we're all pretty zen.

I think you should do whatever you're willing to do as captain and that's it. If I had it to do all over again, I would probably be a bit less focused on winning. It caused a lot of stress and didn't get me anywhere.

Thanks for the advice! A part of me knows that eventually the fire will die out and that the focus will change from winning to just having fun and not taking it so seriously.

 

[Party 10s]

I'm with @Cindysphinx . I've been captaining off and on for 10 years and hadn't really gone anywhere past winning the local league until this year. I would put teams together with friends and deliberately avoid inviting players who were overly competitive. I would put together lineups and spread out play time as best as I could but beyond that I wasn't as good as I should have been about team bonding or even doing recap emails. Definitely never did a hype video - I don't think I could even make one if I wanted to!

This year though, through some miracle, my team made it to nationals. Prior to nationals, I heard of other nationals-bound captains spending lots of their own money and time on team shirts, hats, water bottles and even warmup gear for their players. I hadn't even thought of those things! All I did was coordinate as many practices as I could and help my team coordinate our travel plans.

I guess what made up for it was bringing home the first place trophy! But I still wonder sometimes, did I do enough as a captain?

 

[WhiteOut]

I'm with @Cindysphinx .
This year though, through some miracle, my team made it to nationals. Prior to nationals, I heard of other nationals-bound captains spending lots of their own money and time on team shirts, hats, water bottles and even warmup gear for their players. I hadn't even thought of those things! All I did was coordinate as many practices as I could and help my team coordinate our travel plans.

We've brought it up on another thread in the past: I think your experience in going to nationals, in the way you did it by just playing your folks, winning, and having fun sounds so much more enjoyable to me than 'working' for it. It is important for every cap to do the 'work' of being organized, sending the weekly emails/texts, and making sure the matches go off on time and get recorded -- that's the bare minimum responsibility if one chooses to volunteer to do this (and I don't mean 'bare minimum' as a pejorative). All the other stuff (scouting, buying things, setting up practices, etc)...that's all extra, and most players do appreciate it. The fact is, however, people are so busy, that just doing the basics are also greatly appreciated, which makes it so much more rewarding to advance the way you did...just putting a lineup out there and playing/having fun/winning...absolutely nothing wrong with that!

 

[WhiteOut]

Since were sharing captain stories, and was asked to be the captain (didn’t really want to be the captain because I didn’t pick the team) of a WTT league. It was a 3.5 league we had 5 ladies and 4 guys including me. Not sure I would do it again, the skill level on the team was barely 3.0 and the teams we faced weren’t 3.5 thank goodness. The most interesting thing is we took first place in the league. It means we could go to a WTT regional and compete nationally. My team wants to go, but I told them we’re not strong enough to compete at such an event. Bad captain, I know, but I was being honest and realistic. There were only two players (one girl one guy) on that team I would feel comfortable bringing to a regional and you need at least 4 to compete. If I ever do WTT again, it’ll be because I picked the team.

I'd encourage you to take the team to one that is inexpensive and easier to get to. You are correct, if they are true 3.0's then they'll likely get wiped out, but just the experience of being there and playing is one of the more fun tennis weekends I've had, especially if your team is composed of friends who also hang out after matches etc...a side benefit is they'll see how over-matched they were, and that may spur a few of them to focus this year on improvement.

I think WTT is a lot of fun, and in this scenario you could be the team that shares their cooler with all the other teams if you catch my drift -- bring some local brews...there's something liberating in knowing you are not going to advance...I guess it all depends on how good of friends your group is off the court...

 

[tennisjunky]

Don't do any of this...…… I just show up and win..... or lose.... then go have beer.