My team isn't working

[darkblue]

Cindy, here's what comes to mind:
(a) adults say they want to be treated as rational equals; actually, in groups, they need to be treated more like high school students, only partly responsible.

(b) take no small measures. You're going to have to use a stick to get anything going at this point; your approach may sound good, but the results are flat; you need to put a spine in the team: no such thing as a team of equals, and no such thing as being a leader without also running the risk of being disliked;

(c) Boy Scout definition of leadership is "getting the goals accomplished while keeping the troop together."

(d) what would be wrong with tossing out the lackadaisical ones, keeping the hard workers? I think in the end, people need some kind of assignment or personal mission in these situations; you're going to need to spark some personal motivation in folks.

i got a feeling i won't like playing on your team....

apparently you are a type who believe more strongly about what you think the team's goal should be, rather than team's goal as a team. it is apparent in Cindy's case that goal vs real life priority mis-match is the reason for what Cindy describes as "not working".
don't need boot camp methodology in (most) adult league tennis.

oh.. yes - i have been part of teams that went to sectionals (and did well). and yes, my last 3 yr match record is something like 32-4 (all in singles).
so i don't need my captain to "spark some personal motivation" or "treated like high school students"

 

[penpal]

penPal, I have to disagree with you. But it is different everywhere. As I said earlier, I have captained about 20 teams over the past 10 years that has included adult, senior, combo, senior combo, adult mixed and senior mixed. I have had one small problem during that entire time. Several of these teams have progressed to state playoffs and one went to sectionals. All have bonded and fast friendships have been formed that have lasted over the years. Most of the players have moved up in ratings, some dramatically. A few have left competitive tennis. Everyone had a ton of fun. I know because they keep coming back for more. I always try to keep the roster intact from the previous season but invariably a few drop out and a few new ones come aboard. There is a long list at the our club waiting to get on the team and I often have large rosters to get as many as possible playing. I have done all this at two different clubs so it isn't all the same people. I do state a goal at the beginning of every season and I keep it simple. "Win if you can, but have fun always." There are no tryouts and no mandantory practices. We have one night a week to practice and usually fill 2-3 courts of doubles, sometimes 4. I usually match up at practice those that will be playing together at the next match. We don't have regular partners as such. We don't have arguments about who plays with who and what line. I make sure they understand it is their team and let me know what they want. We car pool to away matches and everyone always stays until all the matches are over, rooting for those still on court. I've been blessed to have met and become acquainted with these people and I respect them for who they are, which is so much more than a tennis player. I've been lucky, but it has all seemed to work. I've seldom felt that my meager efforts at captaining have been hard but it has been a privilege.

Sounds like you are an excellent captain ... many kudos to you for that.

However, just because you are able to captain well with relative ease does not necessarily discredit the notion that captaining a team of adults is difficult. You might just happen to be a savant when it comes to captaining a USTA team

BTW, as a tennis-playing adult, I think it is up to all of us to understand what the captain is dealing with, the effort he or she is putting in, and do our best to lessen their troubles, as opposed to adding to them. In the end, it's just a game.

 

[lovin'it]

I have been keeping an eye on this thread ... as a previous captian, for YEARS of a very successful team, we have been through MANY things, but, I have just last season given this 'honor' (ha!) to someone on our team who I thought could do it, and she has. However, it was after years of truly 'nursing' this team, where I was responsible for everything, including BETTERING my team's individual players games/strokes...what I gave up, was bettering my OWN game! I am now a very grateful team member who plays most games, but the nice thing, 90% of my 'team' energy is spent on my own game, and it shows. Not saying to give up, thank God for team captains, but, you can't MAKE grown women do what you think they should do, even IF you are right, and I don't doubt you are right, but I see our captain again 'nursing' this team, and it will drain you, wean your team, and make the consequences of their actions (whether or not they show up for drills, etc. ) come forward in YOUR line ups, and save some of that mental energy for yourself...and your OWN game!!!

 

[tennis-n-sc]

Sounds like you are an excellent captain ... many kudos to you for that.

However, just because you are able to captain well with relative ease does not necessarily discredit the notion that captaining a team of adults is difficult. You might just happen to be a savant when it comes to captaining a USTA team

BTW, as a tennis-playing adult, I think it is up to all of us to understand what the captain is dealing with, the effort he or she is putting in, and do our best to lessen their troubles, as opposed to adding to them. In the end, it's just a game.

Well, I've been called much worse than a savant. It really has much less to do with me than the caliber of people on the roster. The team makes my job easy. Pretty much all I have to do is put a line-up together for each match, review the opposing team roster and record, get practice courts and make sure someone dependable is appointed beer man. The toughest thing is calling everyone when rain hits at the last minute. I don't coach and I don't give lessons. Most of the players are better than me. I don't issue orders. We are all grown men that like to act like kids. They do not need another daddy, though. We are mates, buds to the end.

 

[CrocodileRock]

sc, can I nominate you for captain of the year?

 

[10sfreak]

tennis-n-sc, you sound like the captain I've molded myself after! You and I captain our teams essentially the same way. Hmmm, maybe it's that Southern laid-back attitude we have...

 

[tennis-n-sc]

Hey Croc, 10sfreak, what I'm saying is it isn't me, it is the teamates. And odd as it sounds, being in the south may have something to do with it. Things area a little laid back and although we have players from all over on the roster, they adopt this attitude quickly. We had one of our best players decine to play mixed this summer. A lefty, no less, from New York. His "excuse" was he wanted to spend more time with his kids. He received a lot of soft ribbing and a ton of sincere respect from everyone.

 

[fridrix]

Maybe you could adjust your goals to being a whiner as well as a loser. Then you might find much success.

 

[Geezer Guy]

... BTW, as a tennis-playing adult, I think it is up to all of us to understand what the captain is dealing with, the effort he or she is putting in, and do our best to lessen their troubles, as opposed to adding to them. ...

Yep - very true.

 

[Raiden.Kaminari]

What an excellent thread with so much information.

I've been like many of the captains posted here.

The teams I have captained don't focus on winning, or on advancing, but on having fun. Come play-offs (if we're fortunate to make it), we sometimes advance to Districts over the competitive teams because we had no expectation on advancing.

The team's core focus is on having fun, and improving as players. If we win, great. If we lose, great (sometimes even better). And as many have found, I usually had a long waiting list of players who wanted to be on my team (once a roster reaches 22, I have to turn away players).

This year, I've burnt out as a captain. I am no longer active as a captain of a team that I don't play on (captaining either womens teams or lower NTRP mens teams), and have passed the responsibility to others. Some players who previously complained about my being a captain (for sending out late line-ups, etc.) are experiencing the pain of being a captain (discovering why I was sending out late line-ups). I still help them out, by setting up tennisone.com and evite. But other than that, I can no spend the simple joy of losing 4 hours of my life for multiple teams just watching others play, or coaching them and helping them improve their strokes.

Anyway, I hope you don't burn out Cindysphinx.