CVTA Captains' Corner

Blank Scorecard (Adult Leagues)
Blank Scorecard (Combo, Mixed Doubles, Seniors)
Roster Information Sheet (Word format)
Grievance Form (Word format)

Being the Captain

How to be a SUCCESSFUL Captain

RESPONSIBILITIES
Attend the Captain’s meeting
Decide on the line-ups for the team
Supply balls for the match if you’re the Home Team
Give information and schedules to your players
Complete the scorecards with the other captain
Enter the scores in Tennis Link after the match

If you can do these six things, then you can be a Captain. The outline below details the above six listed items and the approximate amount of time required to complete each. This outline is based on a team of 8 players, playing 6 matches, 3 of those matches being the Home team.

MAKING IT SIMPLE
At the beginning of each league season, a Captain’s packet is given to each Captain at the Captain’s meeting. Inside that packet is a wealth of information that will help you throughout the season, containing the rules and regulations, a blank scorecard, a list of the other captain’s emails and phone numbers, website information, match schedules, plus other tennis information. Attend this meeting. If you cannot, then send a player from your team to act as your representative.
Time required: 30 minutes

Following the Captain’s meeting, contact each player on your team and ask them if they have any conflicts playing on that particular day throughout the season.
Get each player’s email and phone number.
Write down their conflicts.
Write down email addresses and phone numbers. (to be copied)
Time required: 1 1/4 hours

Next, you will want to figure out your line-ups for the season. (For 2.5 teams) If you have 8 players on your team and the team plays 6 matches, there are a total of 30 positions to be played during the season. 1 set of singles and 2 sets of doubles = 5 people X 6 matches = 30 positions. Dividing the # positions by the # players will allow each player to play about 4 times. Now you can write down your line-ups listing each player about 4 times and remembering who is not available on certain dates. This same principle applies to 3.0 and above levels teams except that you must fill 5 positions, 2 singles and 3 doubles. (48 positions for 3.0 and up if you played 6 matches)
Time required: 1 hour

Make a copy of the match schedule, the rules and regulations (both from your captain’s packet) your players emails and phone numbers, and the line-ups for the season for each player.
Time required: 30 minutes

3. You must use USTA hard court approved balls for your matches. As a new player you may not recognize the difference. The easiest rule of thumb is to avoid purchasing any tennis balls with red lettering. A can of balls costs about $3.00.

If you are home 3 times, playing 3 positions, your team will need 9 cans of balls for the entire season. Your cost would be $27.00 divided by 8 players = $3.40 each. Buy your balls.
Time required: 30 minutes

4. Meet with your players over lunch or a dinner. Give them the copied information and tell them to keep it in their tennis bag. Collect $3.40 from each player to cover the cost of the balls. Any player who develops a conflict later in the season would contact another player on the team to take their place.
Time required:30 minutes

5. Ten minutes before the scheduled match time, exchange scorecards with the other Captain and fill in your line-up.

Assign another player to do this, if you are not available or assign a different player each week to handle this.
Time required: 5 minutes

6. You or one of your players should enter the scores in Tennis Link after the match. (See Tennis Link for full explanation)
Time required:10 minutes

OPTIONAL:
Email reminders to your teammates weekly!
5 minutes
Call them by phone if you don’t do email!
15 minutes

SUMMARY
From the outline, you can see that the majority of the time spent being a Captain takes place at the start of any season.

But 4 hours of your time is very little compared to the friends, fun and fellowship to be had playing tennis. On a weekly basis, less than 30 minutes is required of your time. By following this simple outline, the players on your team know when they are playing, where they play, what time they play and can make plans that work with their lifestyles. You as a captain, have organized yourself and your players. Keeping your players informed, happy and content in this manner is just another step on the path to success.