I play in a 4.0 mens league and for the last two matches my captain put me with two inferior partners who cost us the matches both times. I'm one of the stronger players on the team and I prefer playing with partners who are equal or stronger than me, I cant stand being made to 'carry' weak people like a pack horse. What do I do? Should I make a request to my captain or just bow out of all future matches? Any suggestions?
Whoa! There's a lot to unpack here...so much that I'll just go a little stream-of-consciousness and perhaps something will stick, and I hope something in my post is helpful to you and others. it sounds like you've never never been a captain, so I'll start on that basis.
--so much goes into capping a team...for starters, getting enough guys to fill a roster, have enough subs each week, managing everyone's availability, putting guys together who actually like each other, getting everyone an equivalent number of matches in the session (or trying to -- we all pay the same money)...and THEN, after all of that, MAYBE the squad can put enough matches together, and guys are not traveling for work or injured, and JUST MAYBE the team can compete for the flight for that session. This alone should give you some insight into being on a TEAM...but I'll throw a few more your way...perhaps being on a team is not for you...I'm not judging either way -- just saying it has its own dynamics that have nothing to do with what's happening on court.
--have you considered the possibility that others on the team have made similar comments about you? I'm not saying they have, but if so, it also might be an attitude thing, not a skill thing. We had a fantastic player on one of my teams, which was great till no one wanted to play with him. he was not invited back. I've recently seen him on his third different team in a year.
--I cap several teams. I'm selective about who I invite. I check with others on the team to make sure they're cool with it. I don't want to add a guy then find out he owes one of my guys money or slept with his wife, etc...extreme I know, but I presume if you were invited, the cap did so thinking you'd be a team guy. Trust me -- most caps I know would rather default a court due to being short a player that week that to deal with the ego/drama. Again, not judging, but if you think you might be veering toward 'that guy' status, I encourage you to take a different approach if you want to do adult leagues. remember -- caps are all volunteers. no caps = no teams = no league. be the guy that people *want* to have on their teams.
--a little feed-back on occasion is fine, and crafted properly can be helpful to your cap. you have that right b/c you've paid the same money as everyone else to play. but also think about this: I work 50-60 hrs/week and travel for my job each week, and I cap three teams. I'm only saying this b'c many caps I know have similar lifestyles -- everyone is busy, and capping is a form of volunteerism. if i have the same guy chirping all the time, he won't be back. i simply don't have time for it, and trust me when i say the rest of the guys on the team usually come back with 'what took you so long' type of comment...
--All that said, we do have 1-2 weaker players on my teams, either skill or coming back from injury. if i have to match one up with a stronger player bc of schedules, etc., i let the stronger know ahead of time so they can be ready. my guys are all willing to help out. You should say something to your cap, but craft it in a way that you're willing to help out, and also looking forward to those other matches when you get to partner with some of the other guys.
--when i invite new guys, i ask them 1. what they *prefer* to play (sings/dubs), and 2. what they are *stronger* at playing (and they have to be honest). i explain i want to put them in the most competitive situation possible for them *and* the team, so that first and foremost we're having fun. maybe have that chat with your cap if not already...but make sure you really are being honest with yourself about just how strong you are, and where your true interests lie. You might have more fun and be more helpful to the team on the 2s line, or fewer matches but with a specific partner.
--but again, as a cap, i often dont have time for all of that, and just need guys who can play sings and dubs, and are willing to play wherever they are needed. we're playing to win and advance, but for me and the guys on my team, advancing is a by-product of having fun thru the session on a per-match basis. everyone winds up playing a few matches they'd rather had a diff partner or line...but the *right* guys all recognize it all evens out over time. those who don't will either leave on their own (so far none have), or they dont get invited back (fortunately it's only been a handful of these over the last several years).
hope this helps.
