Number of plays per season?

[J011yroger]

What do you feel is a fair number of matches to play on a team? A bunch of our mixed leagues have rosters of 20+ players in a season with only 8 matches so it's hard to even get everyone two matches and a handful will get 3. I mean the season is almost 6 months long, shouldn't there be more matches? Or make the roster limits smaller but that would be tough with mixed due to combo issues.

Men's and women's leagues are half as long and have 12 matches per season. 6 or 8 match seasons are ok for 5.0 or 10.0 since there are fewer players.

J

 

[BallBag]

I would like to play about one match per week. We have 12 matches between Jan and April and I'll probably play half. I signed up for 2 teams to get my fix.

 

[WhiteOut]

Long answer to a short question...

This is why a) I'm on at least two, and usually three teams per session, and b) the primary reason I started capping teams myself. I like to get *at least* one match per week. So by being on three teams, I can usually get a match every week. Each session in our district usually carries about 7-9 matches (for all flights/NTRP levels), and I roster ~15 guys per team. In the winter session we only play 1s/2d courts, so each player usually gets at least 2-3 matches in these sessions. The summer sessions seem to be more like 8-10 weeks, and since we play more courts, the same roster gets more like 4-5 matches per session.

BTW -- a perk of being cap is I get to choose my spots to play...but I always wind up deferring to get my guys in first. In this week's case, I'm not traveling for work, so I'm in the lineup.

Last summer I was on five teams at one time. 3.5/18, 3.5/40, 4.0/18, 4.0/40, and 8.0MX. Sounds crazy, but with that I was easily able to get on average 2-3 matches/week, and mostly when it suited my schedule (versus the other way around).

 

[J011yroger]

Long answer to a short question...

This is why a) I'm on at least two, and usually three teams per session, and b) the primary reason I started capping teams myself. I like to get *at least* one match per week. So by being on three teams, I can usually get a match every week. Each session in our district usually carries about 7-9 matches (for all flights/NTRP levels), and I roster ~15 guys per team. In the winter session we only play 1s/2d courts, so each player usually gets at least 2-3 matches in these sessions. The summer sessions seem to be more like 8-10 weeks, and since we play more courts, the same roster gets more like 4-5 matches per session.

BTW -- a perk of being cap is I get to choose my spots to play...but I always wind up deferring to get my guys in first. In this week's case, I'm not traveling for work, so I'm in the lineup.

Last summer I was on five teams at one time. 3.5/18, 3.5/40, 4.0/18, 4.0/40, and 8.0MX. Sounds crazy, but with that I was easily able to get on average 2-3 matches/week, and mostly when it suited my schedule (versus the other way around).

I'm on 3 teams and I have played 5 matches since December. I'll probably play 2 or 3 matches per month in February and March. I'm not a benchwarmer or a superstar.

J

 

[ATX Tennis]

I captain teams, and will set expectations with a preseason email. If the team is built to win, i will tell the team that no matches are guaranteed and if we need the same 8-11 guys all year so be it. In practice, I use more than that of course, but I want to set the expectation that we are playing to win and not expect a minimum amount of matches. In practice, I have been able to get everyone at least 2 matches so they are playoff eligible.

Or if the team is built for participation and getting matches in, I will let people know about how many matches to expect. For example, 10 match season with 16 players is exactly 5 matches per player, but that is likely 4-6 because of availability issues and singles issues. Basically, the singles guys may play more because no one wants to play it. This seems obvious, but I have had people in the past complain about matches played when they are at or slightly above average. I do the math for them in my email to stem these problems.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

Two matches per week during the season is a reasonable goal, but depending on your area and level you may have to join up to 3-4 teams to get that.

20 players on one team for 8 matches is tough, and teams probably need to be capped at 15 max. For mixed, if there are only 6-8 matches, you could probably do with 10 players per team. After all, mixed does not have singles so you only need 6 to show to field a roster.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I'm cool with half of the matches. It's nice when you have a roster of very reliable people; makes it easier on the captain.

 

[schmke]

The roster's I'm on are often smaller and/or I'm more available than most, so (health willing) I usually get to play at least 50% of my team's matches, often much more. Our regular seasons are usually 8 or 9 matches played over 10-12 weeks and most don't overlap much if at all.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I think it depends on the commitment levels of the team. 20+ tells me it’s hard to field a full team all the time.

on the flip side i’ve run teams (2 singles 3 dubs) where everyone was 100% committed (pre marriage and kids) so it was a small roster of like 10-12 and everyone played almost every week.

also depends on team goals. if winning is expected the teams will always play top lineup (problem is some captains won’t be open about it else they lose all their subs). I always ran my teams to be social so everyone played equally but i also tried to keep rosters small based on commitment levels.

these days I tell folks up front only count me in for 2-3 matches. but i’ll join 2-3 teams because my sched will open at odd inconsistent times.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OnTheLine]

I also run much smaller rosters and am typical for others in the area.

For 40+ or 18+ fielding 5 courts ... average roster size is 12-14 ... I am carrying 13
For weekday ladies, field 4 courts all dubs .... roster sizes are similar but I carry 14-15 as many players travel
For Mixed .... 3 courts at 7.0 and 8.0, most teams are carrying 9-10 players ... extra guys as they are a bit flakier schedule wise than the women.

CAVEAT: our area has set days (also set times for weekday and mixed) so that makes availability much easier. All 18+ and 40+ are played on Saturdays ... Mixed is Sundays at a proscribed time by level (e.g. 7.0 at noon, 8.0 at 3pm .....)

My teams are "spoilers" not good enough to be in contention, but good enough to spoil other peoples' parties. In terms of playing time, I let it be known that there will be an attempt to have even playing time BUT if you aren't showing up for practices don't expect to have the same amount of time as those that do.

 

[kevrol]

We're limited to 15 people on a roster here so most folks get to play in 1/2 the matches. When I was captaining I always liked to have a full roster for the standard (2S, 3D) leagues and always tried to give everyone at least 3 matches. For mixed/combo where only 3 matches are played I'd usually carry 12-13 folks so once again able to give everyone at least 3 matches and aimed to have them play in half of the matches.

Now that I'm not captaining I expect to play in 1/2 the matches but also play only a couple teams during the same season so that I get to play a league match at least once a week.

 

[WhiteOut]

I also run much smaller rosters and am typical for others in the area.
My teams are "spoilers" not good enough to be in contention, but good enough to spoil other peoples' parties. In terms of playing time, I let it be known that there will be an attempt to have even playing time BUT if you aren't showing up for practices don't expect to have the same amount of time as those that do.

this is one area where we differ. I don't hold 'practices' per se, mainly bc i'm already cpaping 2-3 teams and that's plenty to keep organized. But to your point, I know which of my players are doing clinics and playing socials outside of league matches...and with that said, I do agree with you on this: if we're in contention, and we're playing one of the stronger opponents, I'll certainly defer to starting one of the players who I *know* is playing regularly versus one f the guys who just signs up and shows up for his match every other week (those guys get to play the bottom-teams...and I never put them all together in one starting lineup unless we're out of contention).

 

[Moveforwardalways]

.., BUT if you aren't showing up for practices don't expect to have the same amount of time as those that do.

Hard to imagine being on like 3 teams and still having to make a practice.

 

[OnTheLine]

Hard to imagine being on like 3 teams and still having to make a practice.

We lady 3.5s are a bunch of "try hards" ... almost everyone I know on at least 3 teams ... at least 2 dedicated team practices each week (total not per team) plus fitting in additional hitting sessions or for the wealthy ones their weekly lesson with their pro.

 

[dsp9753]

I average around 4ish matches per team. I am currently on 8 teams this season. I am about to play my 11th match of the year tonight. Our leagues are about 3 months long so this sounds about right. As I am not 40+, I have a bunch of dead time during the summer/fall months. I am also on 3 block times (But I only play for each block maybe once every 2 weeks ish).

When I captain mixed teams, I strictly manage it so it is very flexible and I don't pick up the pairs that can only play with each other.

 

[Doan]

Here in Mid-Atlantic DMV - it depends on whether league registration covers all court costs (DC) or you pay per match (VA). Usually 3-4 matches for DC is fair and reasonable. When people hold practices - is it just playing sets with different partners ? I find that is only useful for new team members to get used to each other. Other than that I don't see much correlation between how well someone plays in practice matches and real league matches.

How do you practice not choking away 10 point TBs ?

 

[J011yroger]

How do you practice not choking away 10 point TBs ?

Sore subject!

J

 

[Moveforwardalways]

Here in Mid-Atlantic DMV - it depends on whether league registration covers all court costs (DC) or you pay per match (VA). Usually 3-4 matches for DC is fair and reasonable. When people hold practices - is it just playing sets with different partners ? I find that is only useful for new team members to get used to each other. Other than that I don't see much correlation between how well someone plays in practice matches and real league matches.

How do you practice not choking away 10 point TBs ?

I assume they just mean hitting around and socializing. An actual team practice (where players are actually trying to get better) would need to be led by a pro or captain drilling and getting reps. Virtually certain to never happen.

 

[Doan]

Sore subject!

J

I'm on a 4 match losing streak when it gets to the TB. Thats not the consistency I'm try to get in my tennis game.

 

[OnTheLine]

How do you practice not choking away 10 point TBs ?

Very sore subject .... but in fact, practice a lot of 10 point breakers .... I win 70% of them ... what makes me sore is getting to a breaker not finishing in straight sets!

@Moveforwardalways you are such a ray of sunshine. My teams have actual team practice where we pay for a club pro 90 minutes drills and strategy and play sets after the clinic. Every week.

 

[J011yroger]

I'm on a 4 match losing streak when it gets to the TB. Thats not the consistency I'm try to get in my tennis game.

I'm 2-3 on the 2019 season, 2 straight set wins 3 super tiebreaker losses.

I don't understand what went wrong, I'm usually money in the super, it's like I lost my mojo or something.

J

 

[OnTheLine]

I'm 2-3 on the 2019 season, 2 straight set wins 3 super tiebreaker losses.

I don't understand what went wrong, I'm usually money in the super, it's like I lost my mojo or something.

J

On a loss from a couple of weeks ago .... we had dropped first set 7-5, came back and won 2nd 6-1 (!) and partner says "I am going to be more aggressive in the TB" I am thinking (OMG why would we alter our play now? Oh please don't ....) yup, lost the TB fairly ugly on one ill-conceived "poach" (read lunging stab at balls) after another.

 

[Rusbus]

^^ Partner blaming at its finest

 

[J011yroger]

On a loss from a couple of weeks ago .... we had dropped first set 7-5, came back and won 2nd 6-1 (!) and partner says "I am going to be more aggressive in the TB" I am thinking (OMG why would we alter our play now? Oh please don't ....) yup, lost the TB fairly ugly on one ill-conceived "poach" (read lunging stab at balls) after another.

Won the first set and got to 6-6 in the second.

Jolly: Ok two tiebreakers, I'm going to win one of them.

Narrator: He would not win one of them.

J

 

[OnTheLine]

^^ Partner blaming at its finest

yup. some days the truth is not pretty.
Most days I will take all the blame for a loss .... not in that particular TB though.