Holding Tryouts For New Players - Page 2

sureshs · 12-06-2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace

If there was somebody I absolutely hated, they definately won't be on my team.

That would be your problem. But then you did not create the thread or complain about the quality of people, so I really don't have anything to go on.

There is of course a threshold. A guy who tells everyone how great he is and constantly belittles others when they miss a shot is not a good candidate. On the other hand, I find terms like "insanity", "diva", "selfishness" etc disturbing, as if OP is doing a mental psychoanalysis all the time of all women she is playing with.

Lots of people do that, BTW. One reason that Friday nite mixed doubles socials at our club has almost died out. The lady who organizes it is always after me to play but if I show up Friday evenings, I come prepared with a good excuse not to play (already commited to singles, too tired to play more than 1/2 hr, etc)

Kaptain Karl · 12-06-2006, 04:49 PM

I run our Saturday Dubs, which is essentially "Drop-In." The "A Players" keep coming every Saturday because they know the more they play, the better the competition will be. It's not really a "Tryout" but it does help prevent ME from having to "play the heavy" on court and team assignments. You may want to try this Rotation System:

Traffic, work, etc. impact peoples' promptness, so whenever four players arrive (assuming everyone arrives within ten minutes of the Start) stick 'em on a court.

1 - W, X, Y and Z split into teams and play four games, following typical change-on-odd format, etc. (If W&X won 3-1, both W and X keep the "3"; Y and Z keep the "1".)

2 - Rotate partners. (This time everyone won their serve. Score is 2-2.) The Players' running scores are:
W & X = 5
Y & Z = 3

3 - Rotate partners. (This time A&D won 4-0.) The Players' running scores are:
W = 9
X = 5
Y = 3
Z = 7

4 - While this court was playing, the other courts of Players were also playing and keeping their running scores.

5 - If you have only eight Players, W & Z play the same Rotation with the top two Players from Court 2.

5b - If you have 12 Players (Assume identical results on all three courts.) you will have the beginnings of a "lineup". Court 1 has three Ws and a Z. Court 2 has two Zs and two Xs. Court 3 has one X and three Ys.

6 - Play the Rotations again ... keeping the running scores.

7 - It's possible the "X" from Court 3 could end up on Court 1 (if the Players on Court 2 are evenly matched). This Rotation isn't perfect, but at least the Top Players tend to play better players and the Bottom Players tend to play those of their level.

(I know the Male/Female pairings only complicate this, but ... maybe someone smarter than I can devise a better method.)

- KK

Topaz · 12-07-2006, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Do you ever reject prospects based solely on their record in TennisLink?

As a captain, I have never done that, because I know we play a lot more matches than what is recorded on TennisLink. However, I know other captains who do do that, and honestly, I can't really fault them for it. I've changed teams twice now, and I have always had to go through the 'proving myself' part. The problem on one team is that I would have to prove myself with a really weak partner. Doesn't matter how well I play if my partner doubles faults over 10 times in a set!

I know my previous record has been held against me by other captains. My first season I lost every match. My indoor captain decided she would dump me at #2 singles (I don't really play singles) when she wasn't benching me. I lost all of those matches. My outdoor captain watched me practice, saw what I had to offer, partnered me up well, and I went to districts with that team after winning all but one of my matches. Now, I have a benchmark rating, and I've had less trouble finding a new indoor team. ('Cause I wasn't staying with that other team!)

EDITED TO ADD: You know, after thinking about this, I realized I did use TennisLink my first season as a captain to look up and assess players. I didn't know anyone, so that was all I had to go on. You have to realize all the different factors that come into play though (opponents, partners, etc). If you look me up, you see what looks like two different players in one season.

Cindysphinx · 12-07-2006, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tennis-n-sc

Hey Cindy, I'm not trying to be judgemental. Do what works for you and yours. What do you do when during tryouts, three potential candidates are better than any three on your last roster. Do you kick three off the old team to make room for these good players or leave the old roster in tack, thereby minimizing play for all?

No one gets kicked off. These people are my friends.

If I don't have three slots on my roster, I don't hold tryouts for three people.

It is this sort of thinking that means we will never win our division. But it means we will stay friends.

Cindysphinx · 12-07-2006, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureshs

I am a little concerned about the first reason. Being a captain is not about being a control freak or boosting your ego. (I am very careful about this at work with my group as I have gone thru much in earlier years as an underling) This is not a marketing executive job or for that matter even a paid position. Interpersonal skills that matter are only those which are used in doubles communication. If they walk away after a match without the obligatory socializing, it is none of anyone's business. "Selfishness" is an arbitrary judgement call. Mother Teresa is not applying for this league. "Diva issues" - I really can't comment about that but I cannot believe it is important. "Flirting with insanity" - leave that to the doctors please or someone else competent to judge that.

Sounds quite simply like you want people who you like. That is just not right.

I am sure there are teams like what you describe.

Me, I want to play with people who are nice and fun. I don't want *anyone* who is even slightly difficult. Being a player on a team run by someone else means you won't always agree with decisions that are made. Some folks get that, others don't. I don't have time for the latter, no matter how good they are. My sister captains in another state, and she has had doubles teams who "divorced" right before districts and insisted on playing singles, screaming fights on the court, constant complaints from players who want to play court one because they think they are better than they really are. Who needs that?

Hey, this is a hobby. It is how I use my free time. It takes me away from my husband and kids and dog. If it becomes stressful due to interpersonal issues -- if I have someone who has, erm, needs -- it's not worth it to me. I had one woman who hoped to join the team but treated my e-mails as though they were annoying spam ("I'm so busy, but I think I finally have a bit of time to deal with this tennis stuff. Now what is it that you want?") Thanks, but no thanks.

YMMV.

And, erm. . . . Have you ever met a tennis diva? Gotta have this partner. Gotta play this court. Gotta play this team. Gotta have the last word. Gotta have this practice slot. Gotta, gotta, gotta. Holy smokes!

sureshs · 12-07-2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I am sure there are teams like what you describe.

Me, I want to play with people who are nice and fun. I don't want *anyone* who is even slightly difficult. Being a player on a team run by someone else means you won't always agree with decisions that are made. Some folks get that, others don't. I don't have time for the latter, no matter how good they are. My sister captains in another state, and she has had doubles teams who "divorced" right before districts and insisted on playing singles, screaming fights on the court, constant complaints from players who want to play court one because they think they are better than they really are. Who needs that?

Hey, this is a hobby. It is how I use my free time. It takes me away from my husband and kids and dog. If it becomes stressful due to interpersonal issues -- if I have someone who has, erm, needs -- it's not worth it to me. I had one woman who hoped to join the team but treated my e-mails as though they were annoying spam ("I'm so busy, but I think I finally have a bit of time to deal with this tennis stuff. Now what is it that you want?") Thanks, but no thanks.

YMMV.

And, erm. . . . Have you ever met a tennis diva? Gotta have this partner. Gotta play this court. Gotta play this team. Gotta have the last word. Gotta have this practice slot. Gotta, gotta, gotta. Holy smokes!

I can see vaguely what you are saying, but how do you judge this stuff in one tryout anyway?

Also your sister's experience is not valid for you unless it happens to you. Bad stuff is always happening all around us.

I have played only once on a team - it was a WTT team early this year. We never had the issues that you mention.

These things get exaggerated, you know.

slewisoh · 12-07-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

No one gets kicked off. These people are my friends.

If I don't have three slots on my roster, I don't hold tryouts for three people.

It is this sort of thinking that means we will never win our division. But it means we will stay friends.

It would seem very awkward to invite one of your friends for a tryout and then not ask them to join your team. Has this happened to you?

From some of your previous posts you sound like a pretty competitive person, so it seems a bit dubious to me that you are in this just to have fun with your friends. Are you being honest with yourself about your goals for this team?

When you are forming a new team, I think it's most important to hook up with people you can practice regularly with. Find reliable people you can grow and develop with - that's what will make you a team.

Added: I just wanted to say if you manage to have a team that is made entirely of happy people with no issues, then write a book about it! I've never seen such a team, as these are human beings. You seem to be going for the Stepford Wives of tennis.

Cindysphinx · 12-07-2006, 09:33 AM

So far, I haven't had a tryout and then not invited the person to join us. I imagine it will happen. I was on the other end of this once; did the tryout, didn't get asked to join the team. I survived.

Most people I encounter seem cool and reasonable. So far, no problems on my team. I did have a problem with another captain this fall (she overreacted to a mistake and ripped someone a new one in front of the whole team), so I simply left the team without playing a single match. So yeah, there are certainly people out there who will make your tennis life miserable if you let them.

Eh, I'm competitive. It's a competitive sport. But I'm not so competitive that I'm willing to run the team in ways that aren't fair or reasonable or honest to gain an edge. I'm also not willing to hurt people's feelings so we can win. If we lose, we live with it.

Kaptain Karl · 12-07-2006, 09:40 AM

"ymmv?"

- Kk

Bolt · 12-07-2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaptain Karl

"ymmv"

Your Mileage May Vary

sureshs · 12-07-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I did have a problem with another captain this fall (she overreacted to a mistake and ripped someone a new one in front of the whole team), so I simply left the team without playing a single match. So yeah, there are certainly people out there who will make your tennis life miserable if you let them.

I would have done the same.

But notice in this case she was the captain. Now, you are the captain, so the role is different.

You mentioned email issues. Only issue we had on the WTT was that the organizer sent out email to everybody about practise times, and several people "replied all" in their email. One guy sent out a nasty email that he didn't want irrelevant emails in his mailbox. But he was correct, so that was that. Clearly he would be considered "unfriendly" but that should not matter, IMO.

In WTT, subs are allowed in the middle of a set, so if someone is having a bad day, he/she can be replaced, so situation does not get out of hand.

slewisoh · 12-07-2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureshs

In WTT, subs are allowed in the middle of a set, so if someone is having a bad day, he/she can be replaced, so situation does not get out of hand.

Now there's a shirt every captain should have printed up.

....................YOU CAN BE REPLACED.........................

12-06-2006, 04:49 PM	#22
Kaptain Karl Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The High Country of Colorado Posts: 5,245	I run our Saturday Dubs, which is essentially "Drop-In." The "A Players" keep coming every Saturday because they know the more they play, the better the competition will be. It's not really a "Tryout" but it does help prevent ME from having to "play the heavy" on court and team assignments. You may want to try this Rotation System: Traffic, work, etc. impact peoples' promptness, so whenever four players arrive (assuming everyone arrives within ten minutes of the Start) stick 'em on a court. 1 - W, X, Y and Z split into teams and play four games, following typical change-on-odd format, etc. (If W&X won 3-1, both W and X keep the "3"; Y and Z keep the "1".) 2 - Rotate partners. (This time everyone won their serve. Score is 2-2.) The Players' running scores are: W & X = 5 Y & Z = 3 3 - Rotate partners. (This time A&D won 4-0.) The Players' running scores are: W = 9 X = 5 Y = 3 Z = 7 4 - While this court was playing, the other courts of Players were also playing and keeping their running scores. 5 - If you have only eight Players, W & Z play the same Rotation with the top two Players from Court 2. 5b - If you have 12 Players (Assume identical results on all three courts.) you will have the beginnings of a "lineup". Court 1 has three Ws and a Z. Court 2 has two Zs and two Xs. Court 3 has one X and three Ys. 6 - Play the Rotations again ... keeping the running scores. 7 - It's possible the "X" from Court 3 could end up on Court 1 (if the Players on Court 2 are evenly matched). This Rotation isn't perfect, but at least the Top Players tend to play better players and the Bottom Players tend to play those of their level. (I know the Male/Female pairings only complicate this, but ... maybe someone smarter than I can devise a better method.) - KK __________________ Join PUT-OFF: Players Unwilling To Overlook Foot Faults .. .. .. .. .. The MAN -- Monster At Net .. .. .. .. .. Last edited by Kaptain Karl : 12-06-2006 at 04:52 PM.

12-07-2006, 09:40 AM	#29
Kaptain Karl Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The High Country of Colorado Posts: 5,245	"ymmv?" - Kk __________________ Join PUT-OFF: Players Unwilling To Overlook Foot Faults .. .. .. .. .. The MAN -- Monster At Net .. .. .. .. .. Last edited by Kaptain Karl : 12-07-2006 at 10:07 AM.

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