Use a group chat app and REQUIRE that all teammates use it. (way easier than regular text to a group)
Might be hard with those who don't have smartphones. Got a couple of guys w/o them......some younger who's kids have broken their phones that they just have simple flip phones. Couple older folks who never got into them.
Re: group chat....I've found that some people just turn off the group chat if they're not directly involved to avoid the annoying chat pings, so then they don't wind up reading messages pertaining to them. I've just found it easier to type regular texts to the specific group each time, which isn't much.....day of to remind the players of time/location/fees needed.
YMMV.
I really like Tennispoint for scheduling ... all players can put their availability in for the entire season ... makes planning easy, also great for group emails AND it links to USTA tennislink and ALTA so you can import schedules and scores. Also gives kinda neat stats on players/partnerships
Tried something like that to plan ahead one season....not on an app but a big spreadsheet. Dates/times, asked when everyone was available.....lot of work setting things up.....was a disaster.....of course when it came time for matches, everyone's plans changed, this/that came up....
I just send out a group email to my roster a week prior to a match asking for availability.
I'm sure there are more efficient ways, but one must find a system that works for them and their players.
DO NOT COACH YOUR PLAYERS. You are the captain not the coach. No matter how much better than they you are. No matter how stupid whatever they are doing is. You can (and should) tell players about things they are doing that are breaking actual rules but that is it. (If they actually ask you for advice go for it, but be tempered)
I'm not sure I agree with this. While obviously I can't talk about specific technique corrections and what not at my low 3.5 level, I can certainly advise on proper doubles court positioning and tactics when someone is doing something "stupid".
You are also cheerleader ... embrace the role. Celebrate big victories and little victories ... be a ray of sunshine and as positive as possible.
This made me chuckle. I always thank my guys for coming out to play win or lose, but please.....I'm not here to blow sunshine up your ass.....be a grown up adult and take your wins and losses like a person playing recreational tennis.
Balls ... DO NOT OPEN THEM BEFORE THE MATCH .... you can check the numbers on the balls by looking through the bottom of the can. The only people to open the can are the players from that court.
Most of my guys just mark the tennis balls with a Sharpie so don't have to worry about numbered balls. Making a specific mark on the ball makes it easier to find in indoor places if a ball goes behind the curtain and gets mixed up with all the other balls back there.