League tennis has truly changed my life. How involved am I? Last season I captained three teams, and took two teams from last year to the state championships. This season I’ll captain four teams, two mixed and two men’s teams, and play on another. What’s got me so hooked on league tennis? That’s not an easy question to answer.
I imagine our tennis league here in Montgomery, Alabama, to be a typical one. USTA league matches are held at two public parks. The leagues are divided into varying skill levels, from NTRP ratings 2.5 through 4.5. This keeps the matches fair and competitive. There are day and night league matches for adults and seniors over 50, for which I qualify this year. Recently, a junior league was formed and they play on Saturdays. Our community tennis association is just getting started, and I’m sure it’ll do much to boost the level of activity here.
Although I’ve resided in Montgomery since 1986, and the local league was activated in 1988, it wasn’t until late 1999 that I became aware of it. "Come out and play in the league, you’ll love it!", said Cecil Colson, a coworker, and veteran league player. I felt a valuable secret was being revealed to me and my best friend, Neal Roddy, who had recently moved here from California. He went on to tell us, "There’s just two problems. One, you’ll need to attend a rating session, and two, if you want to play every week you’ll need to form your own team."
The first problem was easy to overcome. We each paid our twelve dollars, followed the instructions of the pro evaluating our play, and were officially declared 3.5 level players. It was fun and really easy! The second problem was harder. Neal took on the responsibility of team captain and many phone calls later put together "Court Jesters", a team of newbies, misfits, and discarded players from other teams.
Neal and I hadn’t played doubles since high school, some 25 years earlier. We were a good team back then and looked forward to competing together again. Finally, it was time for our first league match!
I remember the match like it was last week. With butterfly stomachs and rusty strokes, we lost handily to a pretty good team on the verge of being bumped up to the 4.0 level. Just our luck to face them right out of the chute! I think the score was 6-0, 6-1. Afterwards, Neal and I sat on the bleachers, somewhat dejected. We must have looked pretty pitiful because another league veteran, Jack Barrett, approached us and said simply, "You two will win matches, don’t worry." Those kind words were such a comfort that they have stayed with me over the years.
Jack Barrett, of course, was right, but while we won some and lost some, I realized there was more to gain than just victories. The more league matches we played, the bigger my tennis circle became. I went from having one tennis buddy to having a team of tennis buddies, and finally a league of tennis buddies! When I needed to replace my cell phone, I made sure the new one could hold the phone numbers of all my new tennis contacts, well over 200!
Our team was a cellar dweller in those initial seasons. A persistent problem was defaulting matches due to absences. But each season our team got stronger, as we’d add a good player or two, sometimes by attending rating sessions and spotting a good recruit. We held regularly scheduled practices and had good turnouts for them. When Neal tired of being team captain he asked that I take over, and I did, gladly.
It was right at that time USTA’s "TennisLink" emerged, and team creation and registration could be done on-line. A few emails with registration numbers, match, and practice schedules replaced the numerous phone calls. I sent the match results on the same night it was played, coupled with the lineup for the next week, and a request for acknowledgement to those scheduled to play. This turned out to be an effective way of managing the team and minimized defaults.
On the last match night of one of our first winning seasons, Neal came up with a great idea. He suggested we have a cookout at the park to show our appreciation for the guys on our team. I dug out a little charcoal grill from my tool shed and filled a small cooler with sodas, beers and ice. Neal supplied the smoked sausage dogs, buns and condiments. We finished our match early and while others played we fired up the coals courtside! Before long, the calm night air was filled with the smell of sizzling sausages as a pungent cloud filtered over the courts. We saw heads turn and noses go up and feared that players would complain about an aromatic hindrance!
Our teams finished their matches and players started gathering ‘round. While savoring the food, we recounted some of the highs and lows from that season. Around me, I felt, was not just a team, but a gathering of friends, people who genuinely cared for each other and enjoyed each other’s company. It was at that moment I realized league tennis was about more than just tennis. It’s about people with a common bond, brought together to form lasting friendships.
The "Hitmen", as we are now known, frequently grill out after matches, and often invite opposing team members to join us, if they haven’t beaten us badly! We’ve upgraded our equipment to propane, and guys take turns bringing their cookers, but we still cook the smoked sausages.
My teams have expanded, although I’m not sure if the grill outs are the reason. This last season, I was a non-playing captain for a 3.0 team. From that team, I mentored a player who will now be a captain for one of our 3.5 teams in the spring. My team practices are primarily for doubles and I started including all three levels, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0, at my practices. To my surprise, the more advanced players are willing to pair up with the lower level guys to keep the matches competitive. Our practices average 16 players and our highest number was 20! Those practice sessions are even more fun than the league matches.
We socialize outside the courts, with dinners, pool parties and other events. A few of my players have had surgeries and I do my best to visit them in the hospital, or check up on them and wish them well. A few years back, a touching memorial service was held at our stadium court in honor of a team captain who suddenly passed away.
League players seem to want a safe environment for all. Two years ago the league sponsored the purchase of two Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), one for each of our parks. The team captains voted to put aside $5 from each registration fee for one year to fund this purchase and sponsor training. We found a donor willing to purchase an AED in memory of her parents. Although we haven’t had the need to use them, it’s good to know the defibrillators are in place, and ready to restart hearts.
The league also cares about more than just itself. Every year league players participate in "Tennis Across Montgomery", a fundraiser for a local organization assisting victims of domestic violence and child abuse. Pledges are collected for a flat amount or based on the speed of a tennis serve from a team representative. This year the league awarded a group meal to the team earning the most money. The women of "Hot ‘N Slicy" took the prize and had a great time at a local eatery. Their efforts and other league players helped raise over $3,000 for this worthy cause.
Although I don’t use it to gauge success, winning local championships and "going to state" is an indication of good teamwork and makes its members feel united. One of my local champs was my mixed doubles team, on which my wife plays. We met at a team practice a couple of years ago. I guess that has to be the number one reason why I love league tennis. The camaraderie and grilled sausages, though, come in a close second!