Joy of Captaining....

[lobman]

From the point of view of someone who has been a captain (often of several teams per season) for almost 20 years, a few observations:

Except from those who have been captains themselves, there aren't many pats on the back for being a captain.

Most players do, however, appreciate a captain they perceive as fair and knowledgeable (and having a winning phhilosophy).

Most players, even given the opportunity, don't want to captain a team. I had a mx. dbls. team that went to State a couple of years in a row and had good chemistry but when I had to step down as captain the following season, the team disbanded because no one would take the captain's job.

Because I have been a captain I think I am more understanding and less outwardly critical when I play for another captain but I also do my share of second-guessing him/her (to myself!).

Finally, I am sure there are a number of motivations for being a captain but I have seen two or three significant categories of captain over the years. There is the captain who takes the job to be certain he/she plays more than would be true if just a player. Then there is the control freak captain who has to be in charge. And there is the "I have to make everybody happy" captain who makes sure everybody plays the same amount as much as possible even if it means that he/she sits out most of the time and the best players may be out of the line up for the big match at the end of the season.

But when all is said and done, let's hear it for all the captains out there!!

[Cindysphinx]

I have captained both kinds of teams: Teams where the stated goal was to advance to playoffs, and teams where the stated goal was to play everyone equally.

Each has drawbacks. The trouble with playoff-bound teams is that no one wants to hear that so-and-so is stronger. And frankly, when you are talking about a group strong enough to win their flight, it becomes hard to know for sure who is stronger. Feelings are hurt.

If you have a team that plays everyone equally, the strongest players eventually start to complain. They don't like the weak partner they get. They get demoralized by all the losing. And most importantly, having a losing team makes it very hard to recruit, as even middling players don't want to be on a bottom-feeding team.

The hardest part for me is dealing with players whose tennis skills do not keep up as everyone else gets bumped, or players who for whatever reason (injury, family, financial) see their skills degrade.

I try not to kick anyone to the curb for poor performance (have only had to do this once since 2006 when no one would play with the lady), but I would sure appreciate it if these players recognized that I am being generous in keeping them on the roster. I mean, if you are losing losing losing and you only get to play three times that season and have a revolving door of partners, there could be a reason for this other than captain incompetence.

[omega4]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I think that criticism is a little harsh. The tennis players who sign up for leagues are usually highly competitive and have egos. I've seen it happen at our local club team where the guys who don't make the final cut get all persnickety.

Harsh perhaps, but completely honest.

The OP's situation is no different from work, where a group head is called to make decisions that aren't popular with everyone in the department, where highly competitive persons and egos abound.

Situations like this separate great leaders from good ones.

[omega4]

Originally Posted by J_R_B

It depends on how good the captain is. If the captain is not one of the stronger players, then s/he shouldn't be in the lineup every match. I was 9-1 for the team I captained last year. No one had an issue with me playing every match.

Perhaps. But if someone did have an issue and really wanted to play, would you be willing to step aside and let him?

Sometimes being a great leader calls for personal sacrifice. Of course, being a great team member calls for personal sacrifice for the betterment of the team as well.

That's the angle I would focus on when serving a team as its captain. Is a team member in it for the team or for himself?

[omega4]

No, I've been working on it my whole life. But I must admit it takes a lot of practice to tell people what I think they need to hear, not what they want to hear.

If there's dissension in the ranks, despite the fact that everyone bought into your vision of getting to nationals, then you're failing as a leader. Some of the team has lost faith in your decision making and are responding accordingly. This isn't a personal knock against you. No one is perfect.

But your response to my post only serves as evidence that you tend to react emotionally and take things personally. You've mistaken my disagreeing with you in a previous thread (and this one) as an "attack" when I was simply stating my opinion (which you solicited from a public forum at large).

I don't think reacting emotionally and taking things personally are hallmark traits of great (or even good) captains and leaders. The ability to see things as they are and to take (and reject) criticism objectively without lashing out instinctively are just a couple of traits that great leaders share, among others.

No, we haven't met. But if we did, I wouldn't let our disagreement on forum topics stop me from having a beer with you or becoming your friend.

Originally Posted by lostinamerica

Geez, were you born an A-hole or have you been working on it your whole life?

Maybe I am a bad captain. Although, it is kind of hard to justify pulling yourself from a playoff lineup when you are one of the top 3 players. I find that detrimental to the team. I am not a captain who makes a team so I have a place to play; I put teams to together to make a run at nationals. Teams like mine attract better players but at the same time bigger egos.

Everyone bought into my vision on getting to nationals; it is the irrational visions of their own games that cause friction. Some people think they will magically become mentally tough come playoffs when they choked matches in regular season matches.

I take it you are one of those who win 2/3rds of your matches but think you still deserve a playoff slot. This is not the first time you have attacked something I said. You don't like how I handle cheaters and now you don't like how I captain... Strangely, I doubt we have ever met; if we have, I can't imagine I liked you.

[J_R_B]

Originally Posted by omega4

Perhaps. But if someone did have an issue and really wanted to play, would you be willing to step aside and let him?

Sometimes being a great leader calls for personal sacrifice. Of course, being a great team member calls for personal sacrifice for the betterment of the team as well.

That's the angle I would focus on when serving a team as its captain. Is a team member in it for the team or for himself?

Depends on the match. I know which matches I have to play to have a chance and which matches we could have won with anyone off our roster. No one on my team didn't play a significant number of matches if they were available regularly.

[omega4]

Originally Posted by J_R_B

Depends on the match. I know which matches I have to play to have a chance and which matches we could have won with anyone off our roster. No one on my team didn't play a significant number of matches if they were available regularly.

Based on your mature responses and posts, I'd venture to say that you're a pretty good, if not great captain. I'd play on your team any time and fully support any decisions you made.

Maturity, knowledge, and wisdom are other attributes that great captains and leaders share (in my opinion).

[spot]

Originally Posted by omega4

If there's dissension in the ranks, despite the fact that everyone bought into your vision of getting to nationals, then you're failing as a leader.

Have you ever actually been a tennis captain? I seriously doubt it when you say stuff like this.

[lostinamerica]

Originally Posted by omega4

No, I've been working on it my whole life. But I must admit it takes a lot of practice to tell people what I think they need to hear, not what they want to hear.

If there's dissension in the ranks, despite the fact that everyone bought into your vision of getting to nationals, then you're failing as a leader. Some of the team has lost faith in your decision making and are responding accordingly. This isn't a personal knock against you. No one is perfect.

But your response to my post only serves as evidence that you tend to react emotionally and take things personally. You've mistaken my disagreeing with you in a previous thread (and this one) as an "attack" when I was simply stating my opinion (which you solicited from a public forum at large).

I don't think reacting emotionally and taking things personally are hallmark traits of great (or even good) captains and leaders. The ability to see things as they are and to take (and reject) criticism objectively without lashing out instinctively are just a couple of traits that great leaders share, among others.

No, we haven't met. But if we did, I wouldn't let our disagreement on forum topics stop me from having a beer with you or becoming your friend.

Lol!!! You are a riot. Are you sure you are not one of the deluded people that lose important matches on my roster who then think given one more chance you can finally win one?

I read your drivel and wondered if you believe your own tripe. At first reading, I thought you were serious but then realized it was just meant to be funny. I appreciate the obvious sarcasm. I just can't believe I missed it at first reading.

Once again, thanks for the laugh.

[omega4]

Originally Posted by spot

Have you ever actually been a tennis captain? I seriously doubt it when you say stuff like this.

No, I've never been a tennis captain and probably wouldn't be a good one given my long absence from the game. But I have served in various leadership positions throughout my work career, whether it's managing departments comprised of multi-cultural persons or leading cross-functional teams.

While not exactly identical, I think there are some similarities when it comes to managing/coaching/developing/leading intelligent, ambitious persons (some with egos) towards achieving a common goal.

And if by some chance you actually believe that one can't comment on being a tennis captain unless one has actually served in that capacity, I think I don't need to drive a car off a cliff to know that doing so is probably a very bad idea.

[omega4]

Originally Posted by lostinamerica

Lol!!! You are a riot. Are you sure you are not one of the deluded people that lose important matches on my roster who then think given one more chance you can finally win one?

I read your drivel and wondered if you believe your own tripe. At first reading, I thought you were serious but then realized it was just meant to be funny. I appreciate the obvious sarcasm. I just can't believe I missed it at first reading.

Once again, thanks for the laugh.

Like I said, I think it takes maturity to be a great leader (or in this case, an effective tennis captain). Some, like JRB, have it. While others....

[Venetian]

Originally Posted by omega4

No, I've never been a tennis captain and probably wouldn't be a good one given my long absence from the game. But I have served in various leadership positions throughout my work career, whether it's managing departments comprised of multi-cultural persons or leading cross-functional teams.

While not exactly identical, I think there are some similarities when it comes to managing/coaching/developing/leading intelligent, ambitious persons (some with egos) towards achieving a common goal.

And if by some chance you actually believe that one can't comment on being a tennis captain unless one has actually served in that capacity, I think I don't need to drive a car off a cliff to know that doing so is probably a very bad idea.

Look out, execuspeak!

[omega4]

Originally Posted by Venetian

Look out, execuspeak!

LOL. Sorry about that!

[ohplease]

Originally Posted by omega4

No, I've never been a tennis captain and probably wouldn't be a good one given my long absence from the game. But I have served in various leadership positions throughout my work career, whether it's managing departments comprised of multi-cultural persons or leading cross-functional teams.

While not exactly identical, I think there are some similarities when it comes to managing/coaching/developing/leading intelligent, ambitious persons (some with egos) towards achieving a common goal.

And if by some chance you actually believe that one can't comment on being a tennis captain unless one has actually served in that capacity, I think I don't need to drive a car off a cliff to know that doing so is probably a very bad idea.

Workplace management has difference vs. captaining that are subtle in appearance - but HUGE in effect. For example: people have to deal with their managers until they leap the hurdle to go get a new job. People can (and will) flake out on rec league captains with near zero effort.

Just about all captains have played for another captain as a team member at some point in time. Very few team members have captained. Unless you've actually captained, at best you can comment as a team member. The value of your comments regarding how one should captain is vanishingly small.

[omega4]

Well, as your own signature astutely suggests, no one paid for my opinions as well. I suppose the value of my opinions are inherently worth what one paid for them in the first place.

But I stand by my comments that I think part of being a great tennis captain involves attributes like maturity, objectiveness, and not taking things personally. The same could be said about being a great corporate manager and leader.

The OP's reaction to my comments doesn't inspire me from the perspective of those attributes. Something tells me that some of his team probably thinks the same.

Originally Posted by ohplease

Workplace management has difference vs. captaining that are subtle in appearance - but HUGE in effect. For example: people have to deal with their managers until they leap the hurdle to go get a new job. People can (and will) flake out on rec league captains with near zero effort.

Just about all captains have played for another captain as a team member at some point in time. Very few team members have captained. Unless you've actually captained, at best you can comment as a team member. The value of your comments regarding how one should captain is vanishingly small.

[lostinamerica]

Originally Posted by omega4

Well, as your own signature astutely suggests, no one paid for my opinions as well. I suppose the value of my opinions are inherently worth what one paid for them in the first place.

But I stand by my comments that I think part of being a great tennis captain involves attributes like maturity, objectiveness, and not taking things personally. The same could be said about being a great corporate manager and leader.

The OP's reaction to my comments doesn't inspire me from the perspective of those attributes. Something tells me that some of his team probably thinks the same.

Fortunately, I don't have to inspire you. You appear to be pretty inspired with yourself.

When I saw one if your posts that you were between a 2.5 and 3.0 but used to be a 4.0, I realized I am dealing with someone who is either making a joke or just does not know enough about this to make an opinion. You really are funny. I've never read so many over the top unwarranted insults. This is fun reading your completely unqualified opinion.

A 4.0 lays off and comes back and will not be a 2.5. Many 4.0s are really pretty good players and a 2.5 is just hoping the ball goes back in the court. Even a long layoff does not make you a 2.5 to 3.0. There is a reason us captains always look for players who have laid off and might be rusty but can project them over a few months. I really don't think you can comprehend what I say. If you are that bad, then you were never a 4.0 and really cannot comprehend this whole USTA league game. Come back after captaining a team to at least sectionals and preferably to the big dance.

[spot]

No, I've never been a tennis captain and probably wouldn't be a good one given my long absence from the game. But I have served in various leadership positions throughout my work career

Just as I thought. First of all time off from the game has nothing at all to do with being a tennis captain. Many people who pick the game up late in life end up as tremendous tennis captains.

In work people are PAID to be there. They are PAID to put the goals of the company over their own selfish interests. They are specifically hired to have a certain skillset and if someone isn't performing adequately they can be replaced with no problem. You can make someone show up at a certain time and do something that they don't really want to do. If they have a problem with it you can pay them more or find someone else. If my league starts to give me funding to pay my players then I'll tell you that the job of captaining would get dramatically easier.

Being a tennis captain is taking a bunch of people who are volunteering their time because they enjoy playing tennis and then having to make it more like a job. Some teams the problem is convincing people to play when they may have other priorities that day. Some days its convincing players to play with someone they do not wish to. Sometimes it is putting out a lineup which makes the person realize that you do not think that they are as good as they KNOW they are. Sometimes its about splitting a pairing that has been successful simply because one person wants a new partner but doesn't want to tell the other person that. Sometimes its asking someone to wake up early and drive 45 minutes to play when they have the option of just sleeping in and playing on the free courts in their neighborhood instead. League tennis makes it so you have to ask volunteers to jump through hoops and to pay for the privilege of doing so.

To be honest the single biggest skill as a tennis captain is managing people's disappointment when you ask them to do something that they wouldn't choose if they were captain. It isn't a job or a college team- this is making a group of individuals volunteer to fulfill the structure and rules of a league. It is impossible to make everyone happy as a tennis captain because you have to have exactly the right number of people in the lineup every week.

And if by some chance you actually believe that one can't comment on being a tennis captain unless one has actually served in that capacity

I think you can comment on it, I just think that you make yourself look pretty foolish when you do because you obviously have no clue about how it actually works. At least you have the awareness you would be a lousy captain, normally players who complain about the captain think that the job is easy but don't want to do it themselves.

I think that every captain will tell you that the best teammates to have are the people that have been a captain themselves. There is simply no substitute for the experience of having to deal with all the behind the scenes stuff that goes along with being a good captain that the other people on the team are blissfully unaware of.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by omega4

Harsh perhaps, but completely honest.

The OP's situation is no different from work, where a group head is called to make decisions that aren't popular with everyone in the department, where highly competitive persons and egos abound.

Situations like this separate great leaders from good ones.

Tennis is played for leisure. Work is done for money. Not a great comparison.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by omega4

Harsh perhaps, but completely honest.

The OP's situation is no different from work, where a group head is called to make decisions that aren't popular with everyone in the department, where highly competitive persons and egos abound.

Situations like this separate great leaders from good ones.

OP's situation is completely different from work-for-hire.

Leading workers and leading volunteers are two separate things. If you are leading paid workers, you do not have to spoon feed them information and beg them to show up. Paid workers have far less freedom to leave at the drop of a hat, for a variety of reasons I probably don't need to list.

I mean, think about it. Does the head nurse have to call the subordinate nurse to make sure she will be there on time for the heart bypass surgery? Does she have to give her the address and plead with her not to show up at the last second and allow time for traffic, and then thank her repeatedly for doing these basic things? I have to do all of these things.

When you're the boss in the workplace, your subordinates work for you. When you are the captain of a tennis team, you work for your teammates.

Also, it is naive to suggest that the captain give up her playing spot because a player gripes about not playing. The captain's loyalty should be to the team, not the squeaky wheel. And if it is doubles, you have to consider the preferences of the partner, who might not wish to play with Squeaky.

You probably have more workplace managerial experience than I do. I think if you were to try to lead a tennis team the way you would run a successful business, it would make for a great sit-com.

I can see it now: "Karen, you're playing No. 1 doubles with Missy, 9 pm, East Side Courts."

"WHAAAAT? Why am I Doubles 1? Becky and Sara should be Doubles 1! I didn't join this team to be sacrificed! Besides, I told you Missy and I don't do well because she's a head case! And no way am I playing a 9 pm match! I won't get home until midnight, and I have to get up with the baby in the middle of the night and get my kids off to school. Nah, that won't work for me."

Good luck with that.

[omega4]

After your posts in this thread, I'm sure now that you've lost the confidence of some, if not most, of the team that your captaining.

Good luck with that.

Originally Posted by lostinamerica

Fortunately, I don't have to inspire you. You appear to be pretty inspired with yourself.

When I saw one if your posts that you were between a 2.5 and 3.0 but used to be a 4.0, I realized I am dealing with someone who is either making a joke or just does not know enough about this to make an opinion. You really are funny. I've never read so many over the top unwarranted insults. This is fun reading your completely unqualified opinion.

A 4.0 lays off and comes back and will not be a 2.5. Many 4.0s are really pretty good players and a 2.5 is just hoping the ball goes back in the court. Even a long layoff does not make you a 2.5 to 3.0. There is a reason us captains always look for players who have laid off and might be rusty but can project them over a few months. I really don't think you can comprehend what I say. If you are that bad, then you were never a 4.0 and really cannot comprehend this whole USTA league game. Come back after captaining a team to at least sectionals and preferably to the big dance.