local league versus post-season play...

[saram]

fe6250 brought up a good point about ability versus match play and it got me thinking about the way things are set up within our local league. We have plenty of players in our local area that when compiled together could give a good run at winning state and then sectionals. Unfortunately, our local league coordinator also wants local league play to be competitive in itself.

For two years, I have seen quality players split up to create competitive local league play--only to come up a match or two short from going to sectionals. I told the league coordinator that this year, I wanted to captain and build a team that was completely built of sound players and good depth--including the alternates. He gave me lip service when he agreed to this.

He set up three teams and I registered to be the captain of one. As I handed out the numbers to certain players to sign up and register, some said they could not register for the team as they were in the computer already on another team as the coordinator had also given them other numbers to keep the play competitive locally.

I also came home to the computer last night and found that three players that I SPECIFICALLY said I did not want on my team are there via the coordinator. I know now, that state will be another waste of time, not enjoyable as to the personalities of such said people on the team, etc.

I could go on and on in my gripe, but I'll spare you the pain. This is my last year doing USTA for this very reason alone. Why spend money to play people I already play with three times a week and then spend the time and money to go to state and get beat by former D1 collegiate players?????

My question, is does this happen to you? Does your local league play become set up so it is competitive locally and some good quality players get left at home while lower players get to travel to state only to lose? Am I the only one here stuck in this groove?

I've already spent the cash on USTA league play this Spring. But after that, I'm only playing singles events/tournaments from now on--tired of others being in control of my tennis future and who I get to play with--I'm not about popularity contests as the local coordinator seems to be....:evil:

 

[J011yroger]

Open, Age group, or bust.

I would never play usta just because of the shenanigans.

I got asked to join a 5.0 and a couple of 5.5/open teams, which wouldn't be bad except that I am not thrilled with the prospect of playing at 9:30 at night, and don't believe in my game enough currently to post consistent results.

If I have a crappy day I go out in the first round of a tourney, then that is on me.

But put me on a team, and I HAVE to win, all the time.

J

 

[saram]

Open, Age group, or bust.

I would never play usta just because of the shenanigans.

I got asked to join a 5.0 and a couple of 5.5/open teams, which wouldn't be bad except that I am not thrilled with the prospect of playing at 9:30 at night, and don't believe in my game enough currently to post consistent results.

If I have a crappy day I go out in the first round of a tourney, then that is on me.

But put me on a team, and I HAVE to win, all the time.

J

I like your thinking. Plus, I'm a singles player and really don't like doubles to any degree...

 

[Topaz]

Saram, in our district it is quite different...it is the captain's responsibility to find and recruit players for each team. Our coordinator doesn't 'put' people on anybody's team.

We also all sit down and have a captain's meeting with the coordinator before the league starts. I wonder if other captains feel the same as you, and if they do, maybe it is time to have a sit down with your coordinator.

 

[cak]

Saram, our district is more like Topaz's, except that the coordinator is more an etherial entity, no one has really met that person, but we do get emails.

However, what you do see around here are three distinct types of teams: 1) Teams that recruit players from all over with the intent of going to Nationals. These teams tend to be made up of tennis mercenaries, and often the rosters of these teams between districts tend to overlap. They sleep walk through local season, making sure everyone on the huge roster gets their two games in. Downfall of these teams tend to be getting the players to pledge alliegance after local season, as you can only go to playoffs with one team. 2) Teams out of private clubs that are set up competitively, have practices, often even have a pro helping them, but don't recruit outside the club. These teams do well, and often make through sectionals and even occasionally to Nationals. 3) Teams that are working on improving, and see how they'll do. These are the bread and butter of the local leagues, and usually the 3rd and 4th teams in the 4 team local league playoffs. These teams get blown out by the first kind of team, and sometimes even the second type of team.

However, there is always talk in the district of how to split up those whose only goal is Nationals, and those who want to play competive close matches for the entire local season. Perhaps even adding local only leagues that terminate at local playoffs, leaving the mercenary teams to fight it out with the really competitive club teams, and leave everyone else to play fun league tennis. There is certainly no consensus on this.

 

[saram]

Topaz and cak--thanks for the input and thoughts. A sit-down is definitely in order this year.

 

[catfish]

Saram, I have never heard of a local league coordinator "choosing teams". Local League Coordinators are more administrators than anything else. I don't see how they have the authority to set up each team and choose who plays on each team. Captains should be choosing their own teams. Thats one of the benefits of being a captain, you get to pick who plays on your team. Your league sounds very odd. What section or district are you in?

 

[ten10]

Saram, in our district it is quite different...it is the captain's responsibility to find and recruit players for each team. Our coordinator doesn't 'put' people on anybody's team.

We also all sit down and have a captain's meeting with the coordinator before the league starts. I wonder if other captains feel the same as you, and if they do, maybe it is time to have a sit down with your coordinator.

Yep, our league is like Topaz. BUT when I started to play on vacation in CA and then came to Texas and didn't know anyone who played, I contacted the Coordinator--she found a 3.5 team willing to take me. When I got bumped to 4.0, she found me my 4.0 team who needed a singles player. I was recruited by my 4.5 team. I don't think I'd want to captain a team if I didn't get to pick and recruit my own players.

Then there is the whole Club thing. More and more clubs here won't let non-members on teams--or only a very small percentage of non-members can play on a team. I don't belong to any clubs so I can't really argue that point on their behalf--It does mean us non-wealthy folks fight for team space out of the public facilities.

 

[jc883]

How expensive is to play in usta league matches, if anyone know, thanks!

 

[ten10]

How expensive is to play in usta league matches, if anyone know, thanks!

My Captain collected for everything in advance, balls for the matches, court fees, USTA fee, TennisLink fee, etc. She varied it depending on whether the team was a primary or secondardy team for each player, as a primary I payed $37 for the Spring Season--10 matches.

The USTA portion is between 15 and 20 and then 3-5 for TennisLink. Someone has the exact figures I'm sure.

 

[saram]

Saram, I have never heard of a local league coordinator "choosing teams". Local League Coordinators are more administrators than anything else. I don't see how they have the authority to set up each team and choose who plays on each team. Captains should be choosing their own teams. Thats one of the benefits of being a captain, you get to pick who plays on your team. Your league sounds very odd. What section or district are you in?

Southern Section.

 

[10sjunkie]

Saram,

Sounds like your local league coordinator is overstepping his/her bounds. I have never heard of an LLC picking and choosing players for teams. If a talk with your local coordinator doesn't work, it may be time for a phone call to your state coordinator. I wouldn't captain a team if I couldn't pick my own players. Good luck this season.

 

[JavierLW]

fe6250 brought up a good point about ability versus match play and it got me thinking about the way things are set up within our local league. We have plenty of players in our local area that when compiled together could give a good run at winning state and then sectionals. Unfortunately, our local league coordinator also wants local league play to be competitive in itself.

For two years, I have seen quality players split up to create competitive local league play--only to come up a match or two short from going to sectionals. I told the league coordinator that this year, I wanted to captain and build a team that was completely built of sound players and good depth--including the alternates. He gave me lip service when he agreed to this.

He set up three teams and I registered to be the captain of one. As I handed out the numbers to certain players to sign up and register, some said they could not register for the team as they were in the computer already on another team as the coordinator had also given them other numbers to keep the play competitive locally.

I also came home to the computer last night and found that three players that I SPECIFICALLY said I did not want on my team are there via the coordinator. I know now, that state will be another waste of time, not enjoyable as to the personalities of such said people on the team, etc.

I could go on and on in my gripe, but I'll spare you the pain. This is my last year doing USTA for this very reason alone. Why spend money to play people I already play with three times a week and then spend the time and money to go to state and get beat by former D1 collegiate players?????

My question, is does this happen to you? Does your local league play become set up so it is competitive locally and some good quality players get left at home while lower players get to travel to state only to lose? Am I the only one here stuck in this groove?

I've already spent the cash on USTA league play this Spring. But after that, I'm only playing singles events/tournaments from now on--tired of others being in control of my tennis future and who I get to play with--I'm not about popularity contests as the local coordinator seems to be....:evil:

I am actually all for competitive local league play. (because most people sign up for local league as it usually covers a long period of time)

But Ive never heard of the coordinator telling you who you can and cant have on your team. That's screwed up for a lot of other reasons besides just the competitive part. (what if you get a player that is unreliable, or that you dont get along with?)

I dont see why anyone would want to be a captain under those circumstances.

 

[lostinamerica]

I wonder if it is a case of the LLC getting a bunch of people looking for a team onto one team.

 

[saram]

I wonder if it is a case of the LLC getting a bunch of people looking for a team onto one team.

It is in part. I found out what he tried to do was get everyone that was able to go to state onto one team. Unfortunately, I had a list compiled of people that wanted to go to state and were competitive players at that level. Going to see if it is possible to reconstruct the teams prior to any of us playing our first matches of the season..:-?