Get off the courts!

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by SteveI

The OP has a bit to learn about common sense and good manners. Pushing all those kids off the courts was a real class act. Guess he really wanted play tennis. The instuctor being 300 lbs had nothing to do with anything. The OP then went home and kicked his dog..

Then screamed "but I dont want to clean my room!" down the hallway.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by SteveI

The OP has a bit to learn about common sense and good manners. Pushing all those kids off the courts was a real class act. Guess he really wanted play tennis. The instuctor being 300 lbs had nothing to do with anything. The OP then went home and kicked his dog..

The dog was fat. He deserved it.

[TTMR]

Originally Posted by SteveI

The OP has a bit to learn about common sense and good manners. Pushing all those kids off the courts was a real class act. Guess he really wanted play tennis. The instuctor being 300 lbs had nothing to do with anything. The OP then went home and kicked his dog..

As I stated, there were four courts at this facility. At the time, it appeared he and his class were only using two. When we began to set up on the most distant court, the coach intervened and claimed all of the courts were reserved and in use/to be used until 11.

We most certainly did not prevent any children from playing tennis nor did we remove them from the courts.

Perhaps the situation could have been handled more delicately. No doubt a sandwich would have gone a long way towards assuaging the corpulent pedagogue.

[Dave M]

You say in the OP that he wasn't using the courts as he was gving a drill before sending the kids back out to hit again.Not sure if you have ever taught a class of children to play tennis but i t is much easier to have them all gather around one court watch what you want them to do then send them off to have a go. they were not on the court when you walked on but if you stopped to talk to someone mid match or went to the toilet would you expect to loose your court? (that is a question we don't have any park courts where i live, all must be paid for)

[usta2050]

Originally Posted by Anton

Here in NYC city certified instructors and high schools can in fact can reserve public courts, but never take all the courts In a single location

over here, you have to post the schedule 1 week in advance too.

[bosssauce]

Originally Posted by usta2050

over here, you have to post the schedule 1 week in advance too.

You should try and learn some courtesy it is part of the game

[omega4]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

^^^^^ Really it all boils down to that, doesn't it?

Regardless of whether the OP had the right to claim the court or not, the OP isn't exactly making himself sympathetic by describing the coach in such a derogatory way. The guy's physical appearance has nothing to do with it. And neither does his coaching style.

Yes, I agree, but the coach DID send 2 CHILDREN onto the court where the OP staked his claim in an attempt to run interference with the OP.

It was VERY IRRESPONSIBLE of the coach to do so. If the children had been hurt, the coach would and should have been held completely responsible for the welfare of children under his care.

Personally, I think many are ganging up on the OP because of his demeanor in this thread and how he described the situation (mentioning the coach's weight, etc.), rather than ignoring all these pretexts and focusing on the issue at hand.

[floridatennisdude]

I think it's BS that 1 pro was claiming more than 1 court. A proper clinic would have a pro per court, or possibly 2 hitting on an off court and the others drilling.

I also think that two wrongs don't make a right. And OP was very immature.

Proper decision would probably have been to find another place to play and file a complaint with Parks and Rec afterwards. Our police have more pressing things to do than decide who gets a tennis court.

[tennis_ocd]

Can't tell who was/is right but it sounds as though the two of them deserve each other. Coach should have some paperwork to show he has courts reserved - tape it to the fence or be prepared to present when others come. If he was bluffing, good on the OP. If it turns out he really did have the courts reserved, not so good....

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by tennis_ocd

Can't tell who was/is right but it sounds as though the two of them deserve each other. Coach should have some paperwork to show he has courts reserved - tape it to the fence or be prepared to present when others come. If he was bluffing, good on the OP. If it turns out he really did have the courts reserved, not so good....

Yep, this typing exercise could have been avoided if the OP had made a simple phone call to the rec dept and asked if the kids coach had approval to use the courts. Let's see if we get closure to this thread from the OP with some facts. It's in his court, not much more to be said at this point.

[jaybear1909]

I've ran into the same situation a few times. The coach was rather skinny though. We came out to play and saw he was coaching some children. The court adjacent to him was empty however. As we reached the fence, we saw that a sign had been posted about the reservation. So we went on our merry way.

Second time was the same courts, except this time it was a ladies doubles match. We went to walk in after one of their points, and they were like "Um, excuse me, these are reserved..." Had to do a double take. I didn't realize rec. players could reserve courts here. Not to mention there was no sign this time. We were nice though and left. I didn't want to deal with them. Luckily for me, there's about 3 other location by my house that we can hit at.

[IA-SteveB]

Originally Posted by jaybear1909

Second time was the same courts, except this time it was a ladies doubles match. We went to walk in after one of their points, and they were like "Um, excuse me, these are reserved..." Had to do a double take. I didn't realize rec. players could reserve courts here. Not to mention there was no sign this time. We were nice though and left. I didn't want to deal with them. Luckily for me, there's about 3 other location by my house that we can hit at.

It's a good thing you left. Those ladies might have opened a can of whoop-*** on you. The OP would probably have beaten them with their own racquets and swept them in the corner because their lifeless bodies would be "in the way."

[SteveI]

Originally Posted by jaybear1909

I've ran into the same situation a few times. The coach was rather skinny though. We came out to play and saw he was coaching some children. The court adjacent to him was empty however. As we reached the fence, we saw that a sign had been posted about the reservation. So we went on our merry way.

Second time was the same courts, except this time it was a ladies doubles match. We went to walk in after one of their points, and they were like "Um, excuse me, these are reserved..." Had to do a double take. I didn't realize rec. players could reserve courts here. Not to mention there was no sign this time. We were nice though and left. I didn't want to deal with them. Luckily for me, there's about 3 other location by my house that we can hit at.

In my case when I run my summer tennis camp and use 5 courts.. there can be no adults near my players. Only members of the camp can be on the courts.. no adults other than my staff. It is for insurance reasons. Easy to see why right? When adults and other non-camp members show up and inquire about court use, I (without being a jerk) explain and tell them our reserved times. I have never had a person go crazy like the OP. If they gave me a problem.. I would just dial the Town Supervisors office and he would send a town rep to explain. The next step would (not me) to call the town police to move the folks. I have never had this come up... but other supervisors in my town have. Some common sense goes a long way.. as does good manners. I never really get into it with anyone. I stay calm.. talk nice.. and then go up the ladder to a higher level if needed.

So.. In general.. make sure before you go nuts trying to storm a court..please inquire nicely and get your facts in order. Sometimes it appears that the person in charge is being inflexible.. when in fact her/she is just following a policy to protect his charges/ him/herself from harm. I follow all rules that are in place to keep my camp members/HS players and staff safe and from me being sued. Hope that helps.

Try to enjoy the tennis and just chill...

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by TTMR

Perhaps the situation could have been handled more delicately. No doubt a sandwich would have gone a long way towards assuaging the corpulent pedagogue.

Whales like shrimp. So yeah, a shrimp salad sandwich would've been good. Yum.

Originally Posted by jaybear1909

I've ran into the same situation a few times. The coach was rather skinny though.

This coach probably needs a sandwich too.

[canuckfan]

The situation wasn't handled as well as it could have been, by either side. But it all boils down to one thing: were the courts officially reserved by that coach according to a legitimate signup system? If the courts were not reservable, then the coach is simply trying to bully other people off the court for his own benefit. In that case the OP has every right to stand up for himself and take a court. If there was a real reservation system, wouldn't that be one of the first things the coach said to the OP? If the transcript of the conversation is accurate it seems like there was no reservation and so any open court is fair game.

[Taxvictim]

If the story is true, and if the Coach had no genuine reservation, then I side more with the OP than with the coach.

By now, OP has had a chance to call Winnipeg Parks and Rec to find out if someone can reserve public courts, or if Parks and Rec has their own lesson program.

Well?

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Taxvictim

If the story is true, and if the Coach had no genuine reservation, then I side more with the OP than with the coach.

By now, OP has had a chance to call Winnipeg Parks and Rec to find out if someone can reserve public courts, or if Parks and Rec has their own lesson program.

Well?

To go to out of his way to find out whether or not he was in the right (or wrong)? No way, that's not in the d-bag manual.

[OrangePower]

Originally Posted by Taxvictim

By now, OP has had a chance to call Winnipeg Parks and Rec to find out if someone can reserve public courts, or if Parks and Rec has their own lesson program.

If the OP really is in Winnipeg as his profile says, then this whole thread is made up and BS.

Ever been to Winnipeg in Feb?

http://www.winnipegweather.com/

Not a whole lot of tennis being played on public park courts...

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

If the OP really is in Winnipeg as his profile says, then this whole thread is made up and BS.

Ever been to Winnipeg in Feb?

http://www.winnipegweather.com/

Not a whole lot of tennis being played on public park courts...

Maybe he's playing on his imaginary indoor public courts?

[OrangePower]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

Maybe he's playing on his imaginary indoor public courts?

LOL, remember this is the place where "95% of the public courts in my city are unplayable; they usually have fixed "nets" made of wire mesh, fading boundary lines, potholes galore (much like the roads) and holes and openings in the back and side fences."

But ya, the other 5% of the public courts are indoor, with heating, and with a full bar where everything is free, and the waitresses are like Hooters girls only completely topless.