Captaining

[Moon Shooter]

Ok so I am captaining a team and we are playing our first match soon. I am fairly new to USTA so have some questions.

I understand no one should get involved with another's players match other than the players but what happens if the two sides can't agree on a resolution? Do the captains have a role in this?

Do captains just exchange their line ups before the match and then reach an agreement on the scores after the match?

Is it customary for the home or away captain to enter the scores?

Is this done in Tennis link?

Do we need the score of tiebreaks for matches and sets or just who won the tiebreak?

Any other things captains need or should do before during or after a match?

 

[schmke]

Ok so I am captaining a team and we are playing our first match soon. I am fairly new to USTA so have some questions.

I encourage you to read "The Code" or "Friend at Court" (https://www.usta.com/content/dam/usta/2022-pdfs/2022 Friend at Court.pdf) as these give good info to know in advance of a match.

I understand no one should get involved with another's players match other than the players but what happens if the two sides can't agree on a resolution? Do the captains have a role in this?

As I understand it, the players on the court are supposed to come to resolution and understand the rules for doing so. For example, if they can't agree on the current score, they can go back to the last score that is agreed upon, or play the points in dispute, or spin a racquet or toss a coin.

However, if there are line-call issues and no referee is available (usually not for league matches), a representative from each team can stand at the net posts and be consulted on disputed calls. If both reps agree, their call stands, if they disagree, the point is replayed.

Do captains just exchange their line ups before the match and then reach an agreement on the scores after the match?

I'm sure this varies some, but in my experience each team's players report the score to their captain and the captains compare and agree on scores. If there is a dispute, the players are consulted.

Is it customary for the home or away captain to enter the scores?

Varies. In general in my area, the winning team posts the score. TennisLink provides for the non-entering team to review and confirm or dispute what was entered within 48 hours though. Some areas the home team always enters scores.

Is this done in Tennis link?

Yes, scores are entered in TennisLink (unless you play in NorCal).

Do we need the score of tiebreaks for matches and sets or just who won the tiebreak?

Scores within the tie-break are not entered for league matches, just who won them. Third set TBs are just entered as 1-0.

Any other things captains need or should do before during or after a match?

Read the link above and make sure your players know the basics of what to do. Make sure you know your area's rules for players that are late and any defaults or changes to courts.

Many areas the home team may have refreshments after the match.

 

[am1899]

I understand no one should get involved with another's players match other than the players but what happens if the two sides can't agree on a resolution? Do the captains have a role in this?

If the 2 sides can’t agree on a resolution to what? Players and (especially) captains need to know and understand the rules. I would encourage you and your players to review:

https://www.usta.com/content/dam/usta/2022-pdfs/__2022FAC_full_final.4.pdf

Do captains just exchange their line ups before the match and then reach an agreement on the scores after the match?

Captains are to exchange lineups simultaneously, prior to the start of the match.

The players on both teams should report scores of their match to their own captain. In a perfect world, the 2 captains would compare their score sheets at the conclusion of the match and resolve any discrepancies. (IME doesn’t always happen that way).

Is it customary for the home or away captain to enter the scores?

Either captain is permitted to enter the scores, doesn’t matter which one. In my area it’s customary that the home captain enters scores. YMMV.

Is this done in Tennis link?

Yes.

Do we need the score of tiebreaks for matches and sets or just who won the tiebreak?

No, you just need to know who won the tiebreak.

Any other things captains need or should do before during or after a match?

Taking a look through FAC (the link above) would be a good start.

Another small thing, if you haven’t been made aware of yet - it’s helpful to know the local rules on who brings balls. Sometimes it’s the home team, sometimes away team…depends on your area.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Ok so I am captaining a team and we are playing our first match soon. I am fairly new to USTA so have some questions.

I understand no one should get involved with another's players match other than the players but what happens if the two sides can't agree on a resolution? Do the captains have a role in this?

Sure: say one or both players think the other guy is cheating. The captains [or one rep from each team] might get called in.

Or there's a dispute about a rule interpretation. Or a medical timeout. Or...

Not that the captains are always all-knowing.

To complicate matters, the captain might be playing also.

Do captains just exchange their line ups before the match and then reach an agreement on the scores after the match?

Some captains only do that. Others are more involved.

Is it customary for the home or away captain to enter the scores?

In my area, the winning captain enters the scores.

Is this done in Tennis link?

Yes.

Do we need the score of tiebreaks for matches and sets or just who won the tiebreak?

For the computer, it only allows you to enter who won. I always note the actual score because I use it in my post-match summary for the team; 15-13 looks a lot more dramatic than 1-0.

Any other things captains need or should do before during or after a match?

Home team is responsible for supplying new balls. Some even demand a new can for the 3rd set [although in many places, the 3rd "set" is only a 10 point TB].

Find out what the policy is at your home courts on warmup courts: do you have to pay for them or are there usually open ones that both teams can use? Inform the other captain. He may already know but it doesn't hurt.

Likewise for when events happen at your home courts [ie a tournament], which might affect court availability or even parking.

The visiting captain usually thanks the home captain for providing the courts but in my experience, both thank the other.

Having everyone on the same page [ie win at all costs or just have fun or somewhere in between] will make your job a lot easier.

IOW, common sense thoughtfulness goes a long way. It won't solve/prevent every problem but you can't control everything.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

God bless you, you are going to over-think this. Good luck and report back often.

 

[OnTheLine]

Snacks. Everyone is forgetting the snacks. Home captain in charge of arranging who on team is bringing what .... usually beer/wine and light snacks, enough for both teams after match.

It seems in my new locale this is much more important than my old spot.

Team management for matches: tell everyone to be there 30 minutes before match time ... an attempt to lessen the folks who waltz in with 2 minutes to spare, giving you anxiety that you do not need.

 

[FiddlerDog]

Snacks are a total joke. Fattening junk that contradicts the entire point of fitness and exercise.
I just did away with that stupid distraction that no one eats anyways.
Next time, just order 2 large pies for delivery.

 

[OnTheLine]

Snacks are a total joke. Fattening junk that contradicts the entire point of fitness and exercise.
I just did away with that stupid distraction that no one eats anyways.
Next time, just order 2 large pies for delivery.

You would not have liked our last spread: Quinuoa salad, roasted veggies on skewers, humus with crudite and fruit kabobs. Just terrible for everyone.

And actually, I cannot believe I am responding to your whiny post ...

 

[am1899]

^^ Yuck!

IME, female teams are way more organized about post match food, end of season parties, and captain appreciation.

Most men wanna show up to play, and want to know where the beer cooler is after the match.

 

[g4driver]

beer.. very cold beer..

refrigerator for a day, them to freezer for 45 min prior to putting in cooler with lots of ice.

https://duclaw.com/beers/sweet-baby-jesus-2/

 

[g4driver]

^^ Yuck!

Most men wanna show up to play, and want to know where the beer cooler is during and after the match.

fixed that for you

 

[Cashman]

Snacks are a total joke. Fattening junk that contradicts the entire point of fitness and exercise.

Being able to eat fattening junk is the whole point of exercising

Not that tennis is particularly good exercise. Get fit to play tennis, don’t play tennis to get fit.

 

[Creighton]

Have you read your local league rules? They will specify who is required to report the scores.

Your local area allows either captain to report them within 48 hours(although I've never heard of an issue in any league where either captain input the scores). That's weird it doesn't specify though. In my old local league it specified that the home captain should enter the scores. In another league I played in it, it specified the winning captain. I've always felt that's the best strategy, just have the winning captain enter the scores.

I don't think we've ever had snacks at a men's league match. One of the few reasons I like mixed, the women always have great spreads.

 

[Nostradamus]

Ok so I am captaining a team and we are playing our first match soon. I am fairly new to USTA so have some questions.

I understand no one should get involved with another's players match other than the players but what happens if the two sides can't agree on a resolution? Do the captains have a role in this?

Do captains just exchange their line ups before the match and then reach an agreement on the scores after the match?

Is it customary for the home or away captain to enter the scores?

Is this done in Tennis link?

Do we need the score of tiebreaks for matches and sets or just who won the tiebreak?

Any other things captains need or should do before during or after a match?

Treat everybody on the team fairly. and no tolerance to winers who say they won't play with this person or that person. if there is particularly weak person, don't let one good player get stuck with that person all the time. Be fair and rotate them

 

[Moon Shooter]

Thank you all for the great advice. I will try to get around to reading the rules etc. Creighton if you have a link to the local rules in my area could you post it?

As for refreshments I will bring a variety of ice cold beer, beer nuts and pretzels, for those health food fanatics, and chili cheese fritos for the rest of us.

If anyone doesn't like this "spread" that's fine, more for me.

 

[silentkman]

Thank you all for the great advice. I will try to get around to reading the rules etc. Creighton if you have a link to the local rules in my area could you post it?

As for refreshments I will bring a variety of ice cold beer, beer nuts and pretzels, for those health food fanatics, and chili cheese fritos for the rest of us.

If anyone doesn't like this "spread" that's fine, more for me.

know the rules before you participle in any endeavor.

 

[denoted]

No tolerance for "winers" or "whiners?" What if the latter are the former (with the extra letter)?

 

[Chalkdust]

Lots of good advice given already.
Another thing I would recommend:
Make sure you and your teammates are all aligned on the team goals and related strategy.
For example, are you mostly a social team, where you're going to give everybody equal playing time.
Or are you mostly a competitive team, where you're going to be playing the better players more, especially when it counts.
How are you going to determine court assignments - play straight up with strongest pair at 1, etc, or stack, or just keep it random.
And, is there general agreement about who the strong vs weak players are.
I recommend being up front and transparent re all above... avoiding these topics up front generally leads to disgruntlement and unpleasantness down the line.

 

[time_fly]

You would not have liked our last spread: Quinuoa salad, roasted veggies on skewers, humus with crudite and fruit kabobs.

Ugh, ladies’ teams. You probably wore matching outfits too.

Here’s the snack assignments from our typical men’s match: beer, bananas, beer, cookies, pizza rolls, pretzels, and beer. When running a mixed match we swap in a veggie platter and cheese & crackers for the bananas and pretzels, and replace some of the beer with wine.

 

[Chalkdust]

Ugh, ladies’ teams. You probably wore matching outfits too.

Here’s the snack assignments from our typical men’s match: beer, bananas, beer, cookies, pizza rolls, pretzels, and beer. When running a mixed match we swap in a veggie platter and cheese & crackers for the bananas and pretzels, and replace some of the beer with wine.

Haha, reminds me of my captaining days. For 5 line / 8 man lineups, my assignments were:

Beer (1 dozen)
Beer (1 dozen)
Beer (1 dozen)
Gatorade (1 dozen)
Chips (x2) and dip
Crackers (x2) and cheese / pepperoni
Cookies (x2)
Hot item (chicken wings, pizza rolls, etc)

Good times...

 

[Chairman3]

Definitely read "the code" as others have said. Many captains and players THINK they know the rules, but are simply quoting someone else who THINKS they know the rules.

Also tell your local league coordinator it is your first time and you want the local league rules. There are USTA rules, but a lot of things are discretionary and controlled by your league coordinator. So be nice and friendly to that person.

Good luck, it is a thankless job but doesn't have to be a miserable one.

 

[ChaelAZ]

BE ready to pay quick, and wait FOREVER for some players to reimburse costs.

Aside from that, read the codes.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Thank you all for the great advice. I will try to get around to reading the rules etc. Creighton if you have a link to the local rules in my area could you post it?

As for refreshments I will bring a variety of ice cold beer, beer nuts and pretzels, for those health food fanatics, and chili cheese fritos for the rest of us.

If anyone doesn't like this "spread" that's fine, more for me.

Check to make sure your home facility allows alcohol; some don't.

 

[g4driver]

Check to make sure your home facility allows alcohol; some don't.

ask for forgiveness not permission
then again some rules were just meant to be broken

 

[Cindysphinx]

^^ Yuck!

IME, female teams are way more organized about post match food, end of season parties, and captain appreciation.

Most men wanna show up to play, and want to know where the beer cooler is after the match.

Nah. No one does snacks in our League. It doesn have anything to do with gender.