First time captain

[MRfStop]

I am captaining my first team this coming up Tri Level league (3.5/4.0/4.5). It's something that no one wants to do in my area which leads to leagues not forming etc.

Do any of you experienced captains have any pointers? This is a two team league and the other captain has just enough players to make the team.

 

[truetifoso]

I am captaining my first team this coming up Tri Level league (3.5/4.0/4.5). It's something that no one wants to do in my area which leads to leagues not forming etc.

Do any of you experienced captains have any pointers? This is a two team league and the other captain has just enough players to make the team.

I once captained a 9.0 mixed doubles team, and it was not a great experience. Because of internal team riffs about playing time and cheating coaches, I will never do it again.

That said, I think clear communications and validation/agreement from each member of the team will go along way. Also, after every match, you should ask for a text from the other team captain verifying the total score.

I hope this helps.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[OnTheLine]

I am now on my 4th season of captaining. Currently heading up two teams at the same time (at level and up a level, don't ask)

With only a 2 team league, i would guess it would be a little simpler?

Clear communication, I like using a group text app (like GroupMe or What'sApp) for team communication ... way better than email (who reads email?) and regular texts or phone calls (who answers the phone?)

Clear expectations ... is this a win at all costs team or an everyone plays team

Get everyone's availability for matches UP FRONT ... that way you can plan out the entire season and only make adjustments when something weird comes up (and it will!)

Be prepared to babysit people who don't respond or confirm ... keep a sense of humor and have fun

 

[kevrol]

Be prepared to wonder how your teammates, who you probably think are pretty bright, can even manage to tie their shoes.

 

[JoelDali]

Recruit former D1 college players and add an extra non-Googleable character to their name, self rate them at 4.0, and advise them not bagelize people.

 

[Nacho]

I am captaining my first team this coming up Tri Level league (3.5/4.0/4.5). It's something that no one wants to do in my area which leads to leagues not forming etc.

Do any of you experienced captains have any pointers? This is a two team league and the other captain has just enough players to make the team.

Bring beer, and snacks....they'll show up

In seriousness, get a good balance of communication: same time every week, follow up at the same time etc...Go out with a lineup as quick as you can. Some guys are a PITA, but over time most will appreciate it, and they'll know what to expect. I also recap matches so guys know whats going on regardless if they played or not. If they know they're getting an email at 3p on Monday, they'll be on the lookout for it.

I find making a few "sub captains" can help manage the ones who are a little more difficult to get ahold of. So in other words, if Jerry and Joey are best buds, and you can never get ahold of Joey, lean on Jerry to help you or get a commitment from Joey.

Also, you will need to spend some time having a relationship with different guys, some you may not normally be friendly with. Don't have to be friends with all of them, but make the effort to always talk to them, get to know the team, show up even if you aren't playing yourself, and thank everyone for coming. I think this is pretty obvious, but I have had many captains who just shoot out emails and never are around. Also, be responsive to other captains, sometimes other guys see this and would rather play with you. With 18+ teams you need to be able to communicate with guys who are 18, and others who might be 60.

Some clubs have bad players....It may take some legwork on your part to get some guys on the team from the outside. Helps to be available for a lot of stuff around town so you can meet different players, and any time I meet a new player who is good I ask them about participating on a team or some event.

Ultimately, tennis players are great people, most are easy to get along with, and they all enjoy participating in things. but the sport has its share of bizarre as well...its an individual sport, with weird people, so you are going to get some characters who are more challenging then others.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Yes, I captained for about a dozen years, including one difficult season with tri-level.

Tri-level is tricky. Teams only need a few players at each level, so they tend to skim the top players. The competition at tri-level is the toughest at any level because of this. That means you should be selective about whom you invite, unless you want to get dominated.

Second, you need a few more players at the lower two levels so you don't default line 3 when none of your 3.5s can play.

Third, you should try to find and play established doubles pairs. Tri-level is tough, remember?

Regarding general captaining stuff, set your line-ups with reasonable notice (unless you like defaults). Send a reminder the day before the match, and insist on a confirmation from every player.

Unless you are in it to win it, give everyone a fair chance to play.

Pair your strong players with strong players. Strong players don't like being asked to carry weak players. So if anyone has to take a beating with a weak partner, let it be you -- you picked him, after all.

Captaining isn't that bad. Once you get in a groove with a good group of players, the thing runs almost on auto pilot.

 

[J_R_B]

Recruit former D1 college players and add an extra non-Googleable character to their name, self rate them at 4.0, and advise them not bagelize people.

Your decades behind the Houston method. You have them self-rate at 5.5 then throw matches to 4.5s in an open singles league until they get an unassailable 4.0C rating. No need to even worry about DQs.

 

[LGQ7]

I just finished my 1st year of my Meetup group. I have about 200 people who signed up, about 100 who showed up. I plan to control all of tennis in my metropolitan area. I used to play in a chess in a chess club. That's all the experience I need. I run it like a chess club. I put everyone on the Elo Rating System.

My friend watches wrestling (WWE) since childhood, he has all the experience he needs for everything.

You don't need "experience" experience. You know it, but you don't know it. You've seen it all on TV. Captain Kirk, Captain Picard, Captatin Janeway, etc. I don't have to invent a concept like "sub captain", the concept is already there, Sub-Commander T'Pol.

And after when you tell somebody how something is done, you just say, "And that's the bottom like cause I said so".

Can you dig that? Sucka!

You already know everything.

 

[LGQ7]

Yes, I captained for about a dozen years, including one difficult season with tri-level.

Tri-level is tricky.

I run my Meetup like a chess club, on the Elo Rating System. My club is primarily a singles tennis club. About 100 people showed up. Everyone is Elo rated.

That's 50 levels. And this is just my first year.

 

[LGQ7]

And try to rhyme when you speak.

"You should have the attitude of gratitude."

If someone wants to jump a level, you say "You have to make the grade . . . to participate."

 

[frank52]

I am captaining my first team this coming up Tri Level league (3.5/4.0/4.5). It's something that no one wants to do in my area which leads to leagues not forming etc.

Do any of you experienced captains have any pointers? This is a two team league and the other captain has just enough players to make the team.

I like to send out the schedule of who is playing for the first half of the season (league). Near the mid-point I can balance out playing time with the second half of the schedule.

Keep in good contact with the other captain. Make sure you and the other captain notify each other early when a court will be defaulted. Sounds like the other team may be defaulting some courts. You want to know ahead of time so you can fill the court with other players or tell your guys to stay home.

 

[MRfStop]

The league was really just created for fun and get some of the 4.5s out and playing. I built my team to go to state, maybe not contend for a title but a least be invited to it. My players are much better than the other teams. The only level I am worried about is 3.5. The other team has 1 or 2 decent 3.5s and there should be some pretty matches against my 3.5s.

I did a lot of the leg work to get the league started. I helped recruit the two 4.5s on the other team and tried to recruit others but they wouldn't sign up. Our first match is a week from today and since we only have 7 matches I am going to let my players play with everyone at their level and try to have fun.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I just finished my 1st year of my Meetup group. I have about 200 people who signed up, about 100 who showed up. I plan to control all of tennis in my metropolitan area. I used to play in a chess in a chess club. That's all the experience I need. I run it like a chess club. I put everyone on the Elo Rating System.

My friend watches wrestling (WWE) since childhood, he has all the experience he needs for everything.

You don't need "experience" experience. You know it, but you don't know it. You've seen it all on TV. Captain Kirk, Captain Picard, Captatin Janeway, etc. I don't have to invent a concept like "sub captain", the concept is already there, Sub-Commander T'Pol.

And after when you tell somebody how something is done, you just say, "And that's the bottom like cause I said so".

Can you dig that? Sucka!

You already know everything.

that's a pretty cool concept... might have to steal that idea for my area...
originally tried to make the meetup to be certain level (ie. 4.5+... presuming 4.0's would fib and say they are 4.5).
but having an open meetup, with elo rankings/ratings seems like alot of fun.

issue i had was that a bunch of folks still BS'd about their level... so maybe just keeping it open, and clearly ladder based is the better way to go.

 

[OnTheLine]

The league was really just created for fun and get some of the 4.5s out and playing. I built my team to go to state, maybe not contend for a title but a least be invited to it. My players are much better than the other teams. The only level I am worried about is 3.5. The other team has 1 or 2 decent 3.5s and there should be some pretty matches against my 3.5s.

I did a lot of the leg work to get the league started. I helped recruit the two 4.5s on the other team and tried to recruit others but they wouldn't sign up. Our first match is a week from today and since we only have 7 matches I am going to let my players play with everyone at their level and try to have fun.

Sounds like you helped start what should be a really fun season, kudos!

 

[MRfStop]

Sounds like you helped start what should be a really fun season, kudos!

I'm hope so.

Here is my dilemma though: I have four 4.5s, four 4.0s(including myself), and three 3.5s. There are a couple of ways I could I do the line up with the 4.5s and 4.0s
a) put the best team out there every week and let my weaker players get two matches

b) partner up two players and play them every other match (1, 3, and 5 or 2, 4, and 6) so that every one gets an equal amount of matches except for the 7th match

c) play them with different people each week. They still get 3 matches they just don't get to play with the same person.

I am really leaning towards option B and not even considering option A simply because the other team is much weaker and I shouldn't have a problem winning the league.

 

[kevrol]

B. If there's only won team to beat you only have to win 4 out of 7.

 

[ace18]

I've captained teams for years, USTA and ALTA. I generally put my best possible lineup out there the first 2 weeks with the hope of getting a lead after the first 2 weeks. Additionally, it gives me the oppty to see what the other teams have and how they are doing against the other competition. Teams that I thought may be tough, sometimes turn out to be weaker than expected and vice versa. In a 2 team league, you go up 2-0 right away, it could give you some flexibility in playing everyone. Obviously, it helps if you know your opponents. If you get way ahead of opponent, you can try pairings that you may not be able to try in the playoffs.

Captaining is a royal pain. My players are all very cool, but you do have to harass them a lot. Players that have never captained take what the captain does for granted, in a big way. Lots of headaches but awesome when it all comes together.

 

[Powderwombat]

Make sure you rule with an iron fist and if possible practice nepotism.

 

[WhiteOut]

Be prepared to wonder how your teammates, who you probably think are pretty bright, can even manage to tie their shoes.

They wear slip-ons...

 

[MRfStop]

I've captained teams for years, USTA and ALTA. I generally put my best possible lineup out there the first 2 weeks with the hope of getting a lead after the first 2 weeks. Additionally, it gives me the oppty to see what the other teams have and how they are doing against the other competition. Teams that I thought may be tough, sometimes turn out to be weaker than expected and vice versa. In a 2 team league, you go up 2-0 right away, it could give you some flexibility in playing everyone. Obviously, it helps if you know your opponents. If you get way ahead of opponent, you can try pairings that you may not be able to try in the playoffs.

Captaining is a royal pain. My players are all very cool, but you do have to harass them a lot. Players that have never captained take what the captain does for granted, in a big way. Lots of headaches but awesome when it all comes together.

Where do you play out of?

 

[ncgator]

I'm hope so.

Here is my dilemma though: I have four 4.5s, four 4.0s(including myself), and three 3.5s. There are a couple of ways I could I do the line up with the 4.5s and 4.0s
a) put the best team out there every week and let my weaker players get two matches

b) partner up two players and play them every other match (1, 3, and 5 or 2, 4, and 6) so that every one gets an equal amount of matches except for the 7th match

c) play them with different people each week. They still get 3 matches they just don't get to play with the same person.

I am really leaning towards option B and not even considering option A simply because the other team is much weaker and I shouldn't have a problem winning the league.

I would start with Option B. After the first two rounds and everyone gets two matches, you can play your strongest players in the remaining matches to win the league if that's your goal.

 

[MRfStop]

I would start with Option B. After the first two rounds and everyone gets two matches, you can play your strongest players in the remaining matches to win the league if that's your goal.

I'm definitely going with option B. The only line I'm really worried about is 3.5. The other team's 4.5 and 4.0 line is weaker than mine.
If I get a team loss or two then I will adjust. If I can get the team to go to state I'm not really sure what I will do.

 

[MRfStop]

Just an update: I won my first match captaining! It went pretty much how I thought it would. My 4.5 line won 7-5 6-2, 4.0 line won 6-1 6-4, and my 3.5 line lost 1-6 7-5 0-1. The 4.5s made it a lil uncomfortable in the first set because there were a couple of trades of breaks but they got straightened it out.

 

[MRfStop]

Update for week 2: We won our 4.5 line 3-6 6-3 1-0, check https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/what-deserves-a-grievance-reported.614573/ for what happened during the 4.0 line, and one of my 3.5s retired because of a hamstring sprain and they were up 5-1 in the first set
So we lost 1-2

 

[MRfStop]

Update after 6 matches. Two weeks ago we were down 1-3 and have crawled back to make it 3-3. This past Tuesday my 3.5 line finally won a match. It only two them 6 tries. Also, my 4.5 line lost to a 4.0 and their 4.5. This coming week is the 7th and final week of the season. I am working on my line up but I may be hurting some people's feelings. I have one guy that has only played 2 matches. If we had won more instead of it being a nail biter he would be playing more but I have had to put my strongest line up out every week to stay in contention.

 

[Cindysphinx]

If you're 3-3, are you still in contention for real? If not, let the poor man play.

 

[MRfStop]

If you're 3-3, are you still in contention for real? If not, let the poor man play.

Yes, there is only one match left. I am wanting to put my best team on the court. I have taken a back seat and only played 2 matches and let the stronger players at 4.0 play.

 

[CHtennis]

Get after it, this is a defacto playoff match so you need to play the best players. The players that are not in the top six will learn that soon enough in the playoffs anyways. That being said, when I captained my team to nationals I got some people upset with me because we differed on opinion on how good they were and we no longer play together as much because of that. Just something to be aware of.

 

[MRfStop]

Week 7 we played the 3.5 line on Monday. My guys won the first set 6-1, then lost the 2nd set 2-6. They went down two breaks in the 3rd at 2-5 and won 4 straight and ended up winning the match 8-6 in the tb of the 3rd set. We got rained out yesterday so my 4.0 and 4.5 line will at a tbd time.

 

[schmke]

What line-up did you go with? Best pairs available treating it like a playoff match?

 

[MRfStop]

What line-up did you go with? Best pairs available treating it like a playoff match?

3.5 line I went with the best I have. I have an older guy who is on the team that tweaked his hammy a few weeks ago so I left him on the bench to rest.
4.0 line I have a mixture. One of the more consistent guys has played 2 weeks in a row so I put him on the bench. But I am playing my strongest 4.0 and the guy who I feel like is comparable to my more consistent but he has a better serve and groundstrokes but doesn't play the net as well as my consistent guy.
4.5 line I am letting one of my guys that has only played 2 matches play and another guy is probably the 2nd best 4.5 on the team.

I feel like my 4.0 line is going to win pretty easily but my 4.5 line is going to be a gamble it could go either way. That's what happened last week. My 4.5s lost to a 4.0 and 4.5 6-7 6-7. But those guys aren't playing this week.

 

[MRfStop]

MY TEAM WON!
We finally got some sunshine yesterday afternoon and we were able to finish up the 4.0 and 4.5 lines.

4.0 line won 6-0 6-3 against one of their stronger players and not so strong players
4.5 line lost 6-3 4-6 0-1 to the other teams 4.5 and a 4.0. But as the 4.0 line was finishing up around 8:00 a big black cloud came rolling in and started raining so the 4.5 line just finished their match with out a whole lot of effort.

That made us 4-3 for the league with a 11-10 IW and IL record. I will be captaining my first combo league this summer. I am hoping I can get enough people to take the trilevel team to state.

 

[CHtennis]

Great win! Good luck at states

 

[PK6]

Being captain is hard and yes while it’s about having fun at the end of day it’s all about winning! My theory is to have 10 maybe 12 player team especially in mixed/men’s league! I don’t like nor will have 16 player team as it’s unnecessary. With our team moving up to 7.0 league this past winter we got creamed with 6.0 team playing at 7.0 level and I need to add 4.0 ladies to give us chance to compete and win. The key is to get players committed to play weekly and go to sectionals if we win league. Some players are into the social aspect but when you are playing matches that goes out the window and it’s all about getting best players and winning!!