Sigh. So the team played at a club with only three courts so there were three different start times.
My top singles guy got destroyed. Only 3 doubles worked out a win with a 10-7 tiebreak (10 point tiebreak in lieu of a third set due to time constraints).
Two matches in. We’ve won 2 courts out of a possible 10.
This was a historically weak team, not sure what happens but clearly they got some new blood.
No rainouts makes me happy. Losing my top doubles player and my other good singles player has really weakened the roster.
Just call me Buttermaker.
Wow, that sucks. We don’t have to do that around here, but we do have to travel sometimes 1 hour to play and even 1.5 hours. Happens 2 to 3 times each season, and as a captain I have to beg to get enough players to fill the lines.
Our 40+ season is down to one match. Us and two teams are tied at 8-1,and we play one of the 1-loss teams next week. Winner goes to a playoff to go to sectionals.
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Do you play best of five courts? We play points per position
1D-6
2D-4
3D-3
1S-5
2S-4
I’ve never heard of that kind of scoring system. Seems like a bigger headache for a captain when it comes to strategy.
Also it seems like it puts a lot of weight in both #1 lines, which is kind of unfair imo. Makes sense that your team is hurting after losing some of your top players.
We play just best of 3 in our 40+ league. It used to be 5 lines, then went to 4 (1S/3D), and this year to 3 lines due to covid. The 18+ season, which starts next week is best of 5 lines.
There was apparently a lot of gamemenship at the higher levels. Dropping best players to the 2/3 line and just sacrificing players on the 1 lines.
That and I think a lot of ties in standings.
I just put my top guys on top. I have a collection of non traditional players I can only put at 3 unless I’m having trouble getting a full squad.
3.5, the land of misfit toys.
I do this when the situation requires if we’re playing for a top spot. A testament to this is that our team is actually sixth out of 11 on performance (according to TennisRecord.com), but we are tied for first because I made some moves to sacrifice a couple of lines to win a match.
Apparently the sections out here wanted to stop that. They had people fighting through NY traffic to play and getting a 6-0, 6-0 match.
I don’t care either way. We are a just want to play group. We got lucky one year on a favorable flight alignment and two strong singles players that are hard to come by.
Sigh. I’ve said it many times. Captaining a men’s team is like herding cats.
Most players are returnees. I do get a couple of newbies each year.
I clearly explain that I set up lineups weekly. When I try to do them in advance I always end of having to scramble as “plans change”. The previous captain did it the same. So it’s been this way for 10 years.
This week I got 5 no replies to my Sunday request for this Saturday availability. (Not “NOs”’just no reply at all)
I finally get 8 players available Tuesday so I set my lineup. I sent a total of 3 reminders asking for replies.
On Wednesday one of the newbs emails me and asks why he has only played once so far. He had not replied to any email for two full weeks.
Sigh. It’s a guy I really want to be part of the team.
I went back a re-read my emails. Another newb has no problem with understanding the setup.
Grrr. Played 2 singles. Won first set easily 6-3 but I was using a jump serve (that I have stayed away from since knee issues) and
Yup. Sore left (landing knee). Check bag. Don’t see my knee brace.
Dig 1-4 hole. 1 singles players finished his match so I borrow his knee brace. Rally to lose set 5-7.
Thankfully pull out 10 PT match tie-break 10-6.
And now I have to stiff leg flat ground and stairs are difficult while running errands w the wife. Iced a couple of times already.
Then learned all 3 of my doubles teams went down in tight matches.
5-7 4-6
3-6 4-6
2-6 6-3 0-1.
Club was super busy plus rain was possible so we played timed match rules of 10 point tiebreak in Lieu of 3rd set. Good think cause no way I could have played a full 3rd set.
On the plus side, my sore Achilles on the other leg felt fine.
That jump serve helps me hold serve easily and also helps me be more aggressive. I ended up playing my slice game once my knee got sore. I couldn’t get the bend I need On my topspin. I can slice with jus fly arm action. Volleyed well enough to finish points got the W.
I hope this is just a couple of day soreness.
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Great job pulling off the win! How is that knee feeling?
Our section plays only 3rd set tiebreakers. I can’t imagine the amount of injuries that would result from full 3-set matches, specially at 40+.
Today we play our last match of the 40+ season. We play against the team that’s tied with us for second place. If we win, we go to a playoff on Sunday to decide the district champion. Good luck to us!
Go get em!
The knee really sucked all day Saturday and especially trying to sleep. But iced and flexed it.
Got up Sunday morning. Had a handyman coming over to help me with outside chores. I put on a sleeve and was able to do about 4 hours of mulch fetching among other things.
Seems OK now. Im sitting out the match this weekend (emergency backup for doubles if someone can’t play).
Should be good to go. Running doesn’t bother it. But 210 pounds landing on it… Too bad I hit 3 or 4 aces with the jump serve
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Unfortunately we lost tonight. We split doubles and our singles player lost 6-4 5-7 4-10.
No rest for the weary, though. Our first match for the 18+ season is tomorrow.
Second season in a row that we miss on playoffs by a game. Third time is the charm!
Two years ago the same team won spring and summer so the two third place teams had a playoff to get the fourth playoff spot (1st and 2nd each season are the normal four teams).
We lost 3-2 courts. I probably could have down shifted my doubles teams and sacrificed #3 at #1 but making the playoff was kind of pointless as the top teams were light years ahead.
It was a surprise bonus as my team only does spring. So we got a late call to have a match.
But now with some turnover we are back to the Bad News Bears. But we have fun.
Yikes. Total disaster vs the top team
One of my guys had a sharp pain in his calf and we had to retire 1D. Confirmed not his Achilles, going to look for a muscle tear this week.
My weakest player who I only play when I need a body is well… still weak.
My 1S player reverted to his old pusher form and played as bed as I’ve ever seen him play. Now that my knee feels better we will be inventing a new game where only good shots win points to try and keep us both out of passive mode.
So we got swept. Badly. Thankfully I got the match started and the Dad and I left to go have breakfast and not directly witness but 20 minutes of the debacle.
But time to buckle up and play again next Saturday.
We started the 18+ season yesterday against the team that swept us in the 40+ season.
I played 2D and broke my losing streak while playing my best set+ of tennis is a while. I lost the first set 5-7. At the start of the second set I told myself to just hit the ball hard with heavy topspin. I won the second set 6-2 and the won the tiebreaker 10-2. It felt pretty amazing.
As I was playing the tiebreaker my teammates were all done and were hanging out two courts over, so I thought we had already lost the match (I knew 1D and 1S had lost). But it turns out I was the deciding match and they just didn’t want to make me nervous (it worked!).
Great way to start the season beating one of the top teams, tennis is fun again.
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Putting myself at 2 singles tomorrow. If we are going to suck, then I’m going to have fun. I enjoy singles much more than doubles.
Worked on my non-jumping serve yesterday to keep my knee happy. Also found my tendon strap that helps. Just gotta remember to really extend to get some power and movement.
Got mine 6-4 7-5.
We got both singles but lost all three doubles.
Third doubles lost 15-13 in a tiebreak. Had multiple match points but couldn’t close it.
Bleeping hot. Over 90. Thankfully we had youth matches after us and we had to play tie break instead of a full third. They still be playing or someone would be dead by now.
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After a rainout we are back to back Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
Clearly had a a guy back out cause he didn’t want to play with his partner in the lineup. He didn’t say as much but obvious. Getting tired of everyone’s “requests”. I try very hard to spread out the pain (we do have some misfits). Thankfully had someone come in late with availability and take the spot.
People ask me why don’t run a summer team. The April-may-June season is enough. I might play on another team, but not captaining again until next spring.
1 doubles Saturday and 2 singles Sunday for me, hopefully on grass. Played doubles on grass a couple of years ago, hoping that my slice game both gets to the low balls and is an effective weapon. Now if my damn balky Achilles cooperates.
