Varsity High School Tennis problem..

[LightningZI]

Hey guys, a bit of background before I get to the main problem.. I play Varsity Doubles 2 for my tennis team, there is no doubles 3, and the ladder only has 7 spots for Varsity, and I've beaten the kid under me for my spot twice in challenge matches.

Now a problem has came up, where my coach is saying I "lack doubles experience" and she's moving me to JV, and moving the kid under me, who has lost to me multiple times, in both doubles challenges and two singles challenges, to my spot. It was quite obvious throughout the year she favoured him over me, as she put him in the Varsity lineup that was submitted to the paper, many kids on the Varsity team were confused as to why it said we have 8 players, when we only play 3 singles and 2 doubles, and everyone in our district does that. Coincidentally, this decision of hers was made on a day I did not attend practice, because I was on vacation.

My question is, Can she even do that? So far we've played 6 matches, Doubles 2 has a record of 5/6 wins, and out of nowhere she comes out and says my partner and this JV kid are a better doubles team, when she's only seen them play together once.

Are there any steps I could take to get my spot back? I really haven't told my parents about this yet, as the situation could get aggrivated even more, as my parents are pretty serious about that kind of stuff, I've been emailing her about this as I'm still on vacation, but she seems to be clinging to the fact that "your challenge match was on a singles ladder, doubles is different", whereas when I won my 2nd challenge match against this kid she said "Alright so the top 7 have been established, that's the varsity lineup for the year"

Thanks

Lightning

Update/Edit?: Lol ok, after I e-mail her, as shes been avoiding me, and my parents get in touch with her, she gives absolutely no reason as to why I'm off Varsity, with her e-mails to my parents and I saying, "My decision stands, thanks have a nice day" When we asked Why I was taken off Varsity, As of now, Even the JV coach is baffled as to why I'm playing JV, but he says just go along with it for now.

 

[jkang909]

doubles is different from singles but she should respect that you are overall better than the other person... the coach determines the spots on varsity but if you are clearly better than the other person, you should be playing varsity.

try talking to the coach in person

 

[Fedace]

doubles is different from singles but she should respect that you are overall better than the other person... the coach determines the spots on varsity but if you are clearly better than the other person, you should be playing varsity.

try talking to the coach in person

I agree with this. doubles is different but since you have beaten him in doubles match too, it is hard to argue he is better doubles player than you.

1. Find out What she is basing the fact that she thinks he is better doubles player than you are. i had similar situation in the past that guy was beating me in singles but i was definitely a better doubles player than him. I was 9-0 in #2 doubles and had beaten him more in doubles challenge matches than he had beaten me. and i was Much better volleyer than he was with much better serves. In singles, he would just hug the baseline and beat me with consistancy and speed and never come to net. But in doubles game, that style of play doesn't work, especially in high level doubles, where big serves and good NET play dominate the game.

2. so if you think you are much better doubles player than him, like better serves, better netgame, more consistant return of serves, then you should complain to you parents. and have them contact the Director of Athletic program or the principle of the high school. I don't like people being treated unfairly based on Favoritism. There is NO place for that.

 

[tennis5]

I am not a fan of getting the parents involved.

Why? It just pisses ( excuse the language) off the coach.

However, in this situation, you need to have your parents talk
to the athletic director and principal.

 

[LightningZI]

I am not a fan of getting the parents involved.

Why? It just pisses ( excuse the language) off the coach.

However, in this situation, you need to have your parents talk
to the athletic director and principal.

Exactly, I'm not exactly keen on the idea of getting my parents involved. Although my coach is hated by most people on the team, I really don't feel like making her angrier than she already is at me for arguing with her, as she hates people who go against what she says..

@Fedace, Originally, this kid and his friend who plays Doubles #1 made up the "best" doubles team last year as they were able to beat both Varsity doubles, but never got to varsity cause they were both horrid singles players, they weren't Varsity, but they were really good partners, My partner and I beat them this year. Mainly because my Serve, and return of Serve in doubles are extremely aggressive, I lack a fluid netgame, and your story is sort of like this kids, as I play tons of baseline games, and I rarely come up to the net, unless I need to finish up a point. My serves,returns, and groundstrokes are much better than his, and the reason I win easily against him in singles is because I can seal his netgame, He's got one of the weirdest net games ever (He smashes every ball at the net, no matter how low or high it is, He's a pusher who is good at the net), but whatever it works for him against some kids.

So from what it seems I should consult with her about this personally tomorrow, as I'll be at practice tomorrow, then if that fails, get my parents involved?

 

[Fedace]

Exactly, I'm not exactly keen on the idea of getting my parents involved. Although my coach is hated by most people on the team, I really don't feel like making her angrier than she already is at me for arguing with her, as she hates people who go against what she says..

@Fedace, Originally, this kid and his friend who plays Doubles #1 made up the "best" doubles team last year as they were able to beat both Varsity doubles, but never got to varsity cause they were both horrid singles players, they weren't Varsity, but they were really good partners, My partner and I beat them this year. Mainly because my Serve, and return of Serve in doubles are extremely aggressive, I lack a fluid netgame, and your story is sort of like this kids, as I play tons of baseline games, and I rarely come up to the net, unless I need to finish up a point. My serves,returns, and groundstrokes are much better than his, and the reason I win easily against him in singles is because I can seal his netgame, He's got one of the weirdest net games ever (He smashes every ball at the net, no matter how low or high it is, He's a pusher who is good at the net), but whatever it works for him against some kids.

So from what it seems I should consult with her about this personally tomorrow, as I'll be at practice tomorrow, then if that fails, get my parents involved?

If he is smashing every shot at net, then his netgame won't carry him too far. At very high levels, any little technical issues like that will get Exposed. Also, try to improve your netgame. It is all in the mind. Developing a good Solid volleys isn't that hard. Remember Andy Roddick who is known for his serves and baseline game, but you have no idea how good of volleyer he really is. He can be a GREAT doubles player if he wants to be. He has great touch and feel at net, people don't know about. but Obviously he had to work on it. Roddick can win slam titles in doubles if he puts his mind to it. but he doesn't because Singles is where all the prestige and ranking points are.

So if you truly want to improve and continue to get to next levels, you have to develop a good volleys and feel at net, you have no choice on that. and its really all in your mind. Developing a good net game isn't that hard.

 

[ClarkC]

I would talk to your parents and tell them that it makes you look bad when they have you on vacation when you are supposed to be in school and at tennis practice. I would not mention the Varsity/JV thing yet.

 

[TennisNinja]

Typical high school tennis coach. I quit high school cause my coach sucked

 

[LightningZI]

Alright updated info, seems like the Varsity coach is avoiding me, but when she does see me she acts all nice and whatnot.

At this point, I feel like following TennisNinja's advice and quitting, but that would only make my parents even more upset.. Most people are confused as to why I'm on JV, and it seems like only three people know, and they don't seem to want to tell me. I'm kind of angry being on JV, and I've heard from my friend who plays singles varsity, that our top player was complaining that I suck at doubles, and wanted to get me switched for his friend, the kid under me who I beat... Although I can see it happening.. I really don't want to get into it..

Our Athletic Director is a complete moron, and I see no reason in going to him to solve it, as to solving this problem with my coach... I have no idea on how to approach it.. She's completely arrogant and oblivious to the facts, or she just hates me.

 

[polski]

What is the coach's results? If the team wins a lot, there might be a method to their madness. If not, it is probably just madness.

I coach high school & always struggle to find good doubles teams. Sometimes the results on paper don't equal match results. However, I do tell the players that I am playing and not playing why they are or are not.

 

[nalvarado]

If worse comes to worse, quit for the rest of the season. If you are a solid player, you will develop more by not playing under your skill level. Come out next season and massacre all of them in singles and develop your doubles game to par. #1 spot singles and doubles.

 

[Soianka]

I am not a fan of getting the parents involved.

Why? It just pisses ( excuse the language) off the coach.

However, in this situation, you need to have your parents talk
to the athletic director and principal.

Yes, go to the principal and anyone else above her.

This is total BS.

If she really believes that the kid is a better doubles player than you, then have you and your partner play against him and someone of equal skill to your partner.

 

[Soianka]

Alright updated info, seems like the Varsity coach is avoiding me, but when she does see me she acts all nice and whatnot.

At this point, I feel like following TennisNinja's advice and quitting, but that would only make my parents even more upset.. Most people are confused as to why I'm on JV, and it seems like only three people know, and they don't seem to want to tell me. I'm kind of angry being on JV, and I've heard from my friend who plays singles varsity, that our top player was complaining that I suck at doubles, and wanted to get me switched for his friend, the kid under me who I beat... Although I can see it happening.. I really don't want to get into it..

Our Athletic Director is a complete moron, and I see no reason in going to him to solve it, as to solving this problem with my coach... I have no idea on how to approach it.. She's completely arrogant and oblivious to the facts, or she just hates me.

Don't quit. Get your parents involved to make a big stink about it.

 

[LightningZI]

Don't quit. Get your parents involved to make a big stink about it.

Already did, It didn't work out too well, my parents talked to the athletic director + the coach herself. It seems that this kid who took my spot is kissing up to her for it... She keeps beating around the bush on the reason as to why I lost my spot, saying its doubles ability, but i went almost undefeated in my Varsity spot, so not sure how that adds up.

In all honesty, I don't really care anymore, Next year I'd make 1st singles anyways since the two guys above me barely play off season. Just annoyed that I won't be playing states cause some unathletic fat kid took my spot cause he kissed up to the coach

 

[polski]

Worst advice I have seen on this thread:

1) Quit - No one grows in life if they simply quit. High school sports are more about learning about life than they are about the game itself. If you quit because a little adversity enters your life, you will end up a quitter at more things in life. Most of those will be more important than high school tennis.

2) Have your parents make a stink about it - Again, this is about life. High school is a transition from adolesence into adult life. Mama and Dada won't be there in your life when your college professor gives you a B when you think it's an A. Or when your boss promotes your co-worker over you even though you have better performance results. This is a huge opportunity for personal growth. Your parents have already done this...it's your turn to grow up now.

If you truly want to learn from this, you need to be an adult about it. Ask your coach after practice about it when no teamates are around. Listen to what she says and ask more questions if you don't understand. Stand up for yourself and tell her how you see it. Make her explain if that is the truth or if it can be explained another way that makes sense. And don't end the conversation until you can repeat what they are saying. If you leave without understanding her, you've wasted both of your time.

As a coach, I love when kids ask things about what I do. It shows that they really care and that they are mature enough to talk about it with an authority figure. A player of mine that is a junior stood up for herself to the point of tears once when her play was struggling due to injury. She is now the team captain.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Am i missing something, in 2009 you tried out for your team and did not make varsity, basically you sucked, but you were determined

Firstly I'd like to say I know there are many threads on this specific subject, Sorry if there's any inconvenience. I just want to know where I stand.
Recently I took up Tennis Lessons.. Around 3 weeks ago starting tommorow. I played a Round Robin today since my Head pro told me to do it to gauge my own level, I've played Table Tennis in the USATT and am ranked pretty decently. So I've been getting the hang of Tennis pretty fast. When I played in the Round Robin, I won 1 game off everyone I played except one person I won two games off of, There were a few deuces (It was a no adv game). Most of these players are Singles Varsity/Junior Varsity from my talk with them. I came in last place as I expected, But had a score of 6-1, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1
My School's Tennis Team isn't all that great. Out of our county, We mainly always come last place. If not 2nd or third to last. I'm not sure if there's a no-cut policy, There probably is. But I'm trying to make Varsity as a goal. There are really no "good" players except Singles 1. I'm doing a winter training session for 11 weeks till Feb. Then a Varsity Tune-Up at my athletic club. This will give me a good 13 more weeks of practice. With 13 weeks left, Is it possible for me to make Varsity, Taking lessons and going to the training session. At my current level I'm doing alright from what I'd say. My service really killed my whole Round Robin experience. Probably 5% of ALL my serves went in, Other than that, My forehand and backhand are good, A varsity player there commented on how my forehand is basically Topspin and not flat like most other people play.

in 2010 you made JV and were calling your team mates jerks and already established reservation about your coach

Alright so today was the second day of practice, this being my first year on the team, Not to mention I haven't played on outdoor courts for matches and stuff so I'm not used to them..But the courts were semi cleared, still water on them.. so we started to play a bit.. My serve was horrendous. It kept going to the ad box on the deuce side and etc, The sun was the only thing in my way.. Wind was pretty minimal.. All my strokes were just off.. Conceited players and a lame coach doesn't make it any better. The coach plays favorites, She hates new people. Due to that, the Varsity and top JV players are basically the same. One kid is a total jerk and just nails the ball into the person at the net.. But near the coach he's a suck up.
Any tips for (THESE EXCUSES )

- The sun in your face
- Annoying and conceited players
- An overall horrible coach
- When strokes fall apart
I've read Winning Ugly almost 3 times now, I go back to it whenever I remember something in it that would help me, But the book really doesn't help when it comes to those tips. I mean there's small sections about the sun and when strokes fall apart, but not the most explanatory..

the above are all excuses, just go out and hit the Freaking ball and keep it in play.

Alright so in tryouts, Currently I'm #10, 3 more spots till Varsity and the thing I noticed about all the next 4 people are that their second serves are dinking the ball in, No pace, No spin. This is the shot I'm most horrible at, Whenever I try to slam it back for a good shot, It goes into the net or goes long, It's almost never in. Most people are pushers on JV and due to that I don't really want to give them a chance to start getting every ball, and therefore finish off the point easier. It really gets to me during matches and I try for a normal return, and I end up playing huge rallies for points.

after all said and done you are still #10 and still on JV

Alright so I was finishing up my challenge match to get to #10 spot (I started off as #12) I lose 7-6(7-5) 6-7(4-7) 2-6, Since we played the last set today and the other 2 on Friday, The thing that really upset me was how much of a hypocrite my coach is, She says she follows the rules to a T and so on, But she's letting the #14 player play the Lowest Varsity player for his spot, The #4 Varsity playing #2 just because #3 was absent one day.. When in 3 weeks she could have had the whole team doing challenge matches, There are still people on my team (Team of 17 people), Who haven't played a single challenge match.
So my question is how to deal with a coach who bends the rules according to their own little way of doing things? I mean #14 playing #7 is a huge bend... There's actually two #8's according to her because somehow #14 jumped to #8 without playing a single match, and previous #8 is still #8. This sort of thing is really aggravating me because I lost due to a horrible off day today, and I'm not one to make excuses for losing. Two tiebreakers and a 6-2 loss shows how much of an off day it was.. Still I was forced to play.. When the season doesn't officially start till next Wednesday (First match). I kind of feel like quitting the team but then again I don't want to do that... I'm leaning towards me not quitting the team though...Not sure.

calling coach hypocrite from day 1, back to #12 on JV, making excuses again that you had an off day, Coaches want to see how you play on your off days not your good days,
in 2011 you are still in JV and posting all sorts of gear stuff on TW, and want to go to NB to make varsity

My parents are thinking of sending me to Bollettieri Tennis Academy for around 5 weeks to improve. I would rank myself around 3.0 or 3.5, I'm in the high JV range, but I can beat Varsity players. The reason I have trouble moving up JV ranks is unpredictable styles that most people have in JV, Other than that it's easier for me to play varsity players because I can find strategies. That's another thing but how much will going to an academy help? From what I've heard Bollettieri's is pretty intense and they mostly make your forehand into a weapon without focusing much on most other things.

so now in your mind you have concocted all sorts of excuses why you are losing to JV players below is just an example of this nightmare. Just practice with a pro or a college kid ($30 per hour) who hits the ball better than a varsity player and stop being over obsessed with these different types of players

Alright so I saw a similar thread, and I though I'd make one just similar to it because it had a really good structure and question.
I've got the same question except its for a wider group of players, since tennis just started today, and I played last year for the team, I know a lot of the players and their weaknesses/strengths, and then there's a new player who seems decent as he carries around a huge bag, tons of racquets, but he could be a j0llyroger. I'd just like to know a basic strategy against these players, I'll try to elaborate as much as I can on them, It'll be good for me too because then I'll be able to pick out what you said and then apply it myself later hopefully lol.
Alright so to the main point of the thread -:
First Player - Righty - Baseline basher
1st Serve - Decent slice serve
2nd Serve - Just a regular jv toss the ball in serve
FH - Really good, extremely consistent, sometimes even just extremely lucky
BH - He hits a 1 hander but always tells me he has problems with it, but hard part is he runs around the BH so much it's hard to get him to hit the BH
Volleys - Again pretty decent
Overhead - Really good
Mentally - He knows what to do in the mental side of tennis so he's pretty good at that
Second Player - Righty - Baseline Basher
1st Serve - Pretty good flat serve
2nd serve - Again another good serve, consistent slice/kick
FH - Good, but not excellent like the other player, this person hits inside out too
BH - exploitable 2 hander
Volleys - Horrible
Overhead - Never seen him hit one
Mentally - Has no stand, nothing you say really affects him..
Third Player - Lefty - All Court
1st Serve - Amazing flat serve, the kid is 6'7 so its really good
2nd Serve - Best kick serve, not much else to say
FH - Consistent
BH - One hander, consistent too
Volleys - Pretty good
Overhead - Good
Mentally - Gets angry easily, if he starts playing bad he gets mad and he'll shout during the match and whatnot but he hates to run, thats the only thing i have on him
Fourth Player - Righty - All Court
1st Serve - Kick Serve really good at placement
2nd Serve - Kick Serve same
FH - another really lucky forehand as when you see him hit it your like, thats not going in, but it lands in, Otherwise it's pretty good
BH - It's there just because he needs one, otherwise he'd probably never use it
Volleys - extraordinary
Overhead - Pretty good
Mental - I would say he's good in a match, as he's quiet outside of school but hes really arrogant, and hes known to cry if he loses a match
Me
1st Serve - Was originally a kick serve, but now it's a flat serve which is 50% consistent, and very high paced
2nd Serve - Kick serve, Probably as good with the kicker as the 4th person
FH - I can hit it to sides and whatnot without worrying, it's just I tend to lose control on power sometimes, its not really consistent unless i focus on it though
BH - One hander, and its as good as my forehand, a lot more consistent
Volleys - Above Average
Overhead - Horrid
Mentally - Probably a 7/10, It's just that though I tend to think the "good shot" thing doesn't get to me, it really does, subconsciously it just affects my play -.-

 

[tennis5]

Am i missing something, in 2009 you tried out for your team and did not make varsity, basically you sucked, but you were determined End Quote.

-----------------------------------------------

Am I missing something here?

A kid comes onto this site and asks for advice.

On this thread, someone joked about doing a school shooting ( which was later deleted)

and then another person mentioned a terrorist organization ( which was later deleted).

Now, I am reading from you in regards to this kid .... "basically you sucked".

I would hope when kids are involved,

that this board would be supportive and appropriate with teenage kids.

 

[Soianka]

Worst advice I have seen on this thread:

1) Quit - No one grows in life if they simply quit. High school sports are more about learning about life than they are about the game itself. If you quit because a little adversity enters your life, you will end up a quitter at more things in life. Most of those will be more important than high school tennis.

2) Have your parents make a stink about it - Again, this is about life. High school is a transition from adolesence into adult life. Mama and Dada won't be there in your life when your college professor gives you a B when you think it's an A. Or when your boss promotes your co-worker over you even though you have better performance results. This is a huge opportunity for personal growth. Your parents have already done this...it's your turn to grow up now.

If you truly want to learn from this, you need to be an adult about it. Ask your coach after practice about it when no teamates are around. Listen to what she says and ask more questions if you don't understand. Stand up for yourself and tell her how you see it. Make her explain if that is the truth or if it can be explained another way that makes sense. And don't end the conversation until you can repeat what they are saying. If you leave without understanding her, you've wasted both of your time.

As a coach, I love when kids ask things about what I do. It shows that they really care and that they are mature enough to talk about it with an authority figure. A player of mine that is a junior stood up for herself to the point of tears once when her play was struggling due to injury. She is now the team captain.

I agree with #2 in general, but this kid already tried talking to the coach and it was quite underhanded the way she went about replacing him.

So I don't think it is out of line to get his parents involved so that she knows that he has someone else in his corner.

If she were really about being fair, she would not have done it while he was on vacation and then refuse to answer his subsequent emails.

If she really wanted to replace him, at least face to face talk about it or arrange a challenge doubles match.

She was underhanded and abused her authority. Certainly, this is were parents should step in.

 

[OneMoreShot]

it was quite underhanded the way she went about replacing him.

So I don't think it is out of line to get his parents involved so that she knows that he has someone else in his corner.

If she were really about being fair, she would not have done it while he was on vacation and then refuse to answer his subsequent emails.

There is a lot of people saying that the coach is wrong. I know a lot of teenage kids that think they are better than they really are. Have you asked your coach what areas you need to work on for improvement?

Don't quit. Suck it up and play JV. It should allow you to play singles since I expect you would be the top player on JV. Your singles skills will develop faster playing JV singles more than varsity doubles. This will allow you to develop and play varsity singles the next year.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

A kid comes onto this site and asks for advice.

On this thread, someone joked about doing a school shooting ( which was later deleted)

and then another person mentioned a terrorist organization ( which was later deleted).

Now, I am reading from you in regards to this kid .... "basically you sucked".

I would hope when kids are involved,

that this board would be supportive and appropriate with teenage kids.

kid comes to ask for advice and I gave it to him, with a bit of reality check as well. funny how you seem to miss what I told him, mainly that he should stop worrying about all these different types/style of players that he should just get out and hit the ball and keep it in play.

Kid is obviously a singles player ( wants to be #1 singles next year) and coach knew that replacing him with a doubles specialist might be beneficial to the team. In the end, coach is doing what is best for the whole team to win and not what is best for each individual.

Every kid except the #1 player on every tennis team will come up with all sorts of wild reasons ( usually excuses) why they should be playing higher up. In doubles it is not always black and white and what is written on paper. It is a chemistry that either works or does not work. SOmetimes you have the #18 singles player who plays best with a guy who is #5 forming the #1D team, where the top four players usually suck at doubles. I have such a situation on my team. It is usually the #6 7,8 singles players that are usually whining. It is what it is. I have given every chance in the world to these JV players to win and they usually don't. The coach can see things that we can not. All we have is one side of the story.

I would arrange for a challenge doubles match IF possible. But, the Kid is calling the other kid all sorts of "fat" and "unathletic" names, obviously he is not a team player and thinks he is better than others. He most likely does not have a partner since by his admission he is a singles player. The coach chose the best out of a bad situation, I would not agree %100 how she went about it but she is after all the coach and she has the final say and her decision still stands, even if AD intervenes the final decision is still hers.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

There is a lot of people saying that the coach is wrong. I know a lot of teenage kids that think they are better than they really are. Have you asked your coach what areas you need to work on for improvement?

Don't quit. Suck it up and play JV. It should allow you to play singles since I expect you would be the top player on JV. Your singles skills will develop faster playing JV singles more than varsity doubles. This will allow you to develop and play varsity singles the next year.

understatement of the year, not only do they think they are better than they are but their parents thinks they are the next federer/nadal. They are delusional,

TCF asked this question ( areas that needs to be improved) to this kid but he chose to ignore it, here http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=4127917&postcount=2 nothing he did not respond nor do what TCF asked him to do, basically he thinks it would be viewed as "kissing up" to the coach when in fact you are trying to get the best feedback from your coach. He basically did not warm up to the coach from day one.

 

[polski]

I agree with #2 in general, but this kid already tried talking to the coach and it was quite underhanded the way she went about replacing him.

So I don't think it is out of line to get his parents involved so that she knows that he has someone else in his corner.

If she were really about being fair, she would not have done it while he was on vacation and then refuse to answer his subsequent emails.

If she really wanted to replace him, at least face to face talk about it or arrange a challenge doubles match.

She was underhanded and abused her authority. Certainly, this is were parents should step in.

I call B/S on this. From his postings on this forum and in the past he has not been mature in his conversations with the coach. He can't put into words what the coach's words were. I promise you that a coach has a reason (usually winning) as to why a player is out of the lineup. This kid has done nothing but whine about the situation on this board & I assume that he was a whiner to the coach.

 

[tennisjon]

I would talk to your parents and tell them that it makes you look bad when they have you on vacation when you are supposed to be in school and at tennis practice. I would not mention the Varsity/JV thing yet.

I agree that this could be a big issue on some teams. However, based on the info we have, she would have brought this up and used it as an easy excuse if that was her reason. As other people have mentioned, there is something else going on. I have coached h.s. and college tennis and lineups are usually based on challenge matches and who plays is usually based on what makes the current team best and ever so slightly as to what is best for the future of the team.

There also could be the better partner of the team's request to not play with a certain doubles partner. Its possible the coach isn't mentioning this.

 

[PennAlum]

Why don't you challenge her to have a challenge doubles match between you and your partner and that kid and his partner.? Settle it with your racquet.

 

[NLBwell]

You are learning about real-life, kid. Coaches play who they want to play. If you can't get a straight answer, then that's the reason. Either she just likes the other kid better or just wants to keep the #1 guy happy. Nothing to do except get so much better they can't deny you being on the team.

 

[andfor]

Why don't you challenge her to have a challenge doubles match between you and your partner and that kid and his partner.? Settle it with your racquet.

Although that makes sense coaches for years have sighted subjective reasoning for starting athletes over team mates they can't beat. Reasons like, playing upperclassmen (experience) over underclassmen, better results in actual varsity match play, attitude and others. There are also unspoken political reasons, like pressure from administration on the coach to play certain kids, kids whose parents are boosters to the program or donors to the school, etc.

Is that right, no, it's just the way things are.........

Many coaches also limit challege matches. Asking the coach for a challege match is a good idea.

The best an athlete can do is work hard to improve to such a level that subjective reasoning is made irrelevant. Just beat everyone. If it's not possible to become the best player on the team by next season, work hard, improve and gain more experience playing matches and tournaments in the off-season. Come back the next year whip up in the challenge season.

 

[Isaac Newton]

Not convinced

Thus far hasn't provided to me a compelling case to the "unfairness". Here are my questions:

Why were you on vacation instead of at practice?

What were the scores of when you beat the person who took your spot?
Certainly a 7-6, 7-6 score isn't compelling evidence to say if one player is better than another.

Did you and the other player play common opponents? Does your record against them indicate the same level of superiority?

Any personality issues with you and other team members?

Do you or the other player have any unique strengths; left-handed, height, etc. Certain strengths are more advantagous in doubles than singles.

Most coaches are impartial, very few kids or parents are impartial. A coach is trying to build a program, send motivational messages to kids to play at their best. Kids are frequently concerned with playing time and don't have the a team concept.