How To Win At Sectionals And Nationals (USTA Adult Leagues)

The time of the year is upon us when the victorious teams from the Tallahassee USTA Adult Leagues (18 & up) head to various locations throughout the state to play in the USTA-FL sectionals. At the Sectional, our local champions first have to navigate themselves out of their round robin group,  and then win two matches in single elimination format.  This means winning 5-6 matches during the course of three days.

For captains, this task can be daunting, if not overwhelming.  The first rule of captaining, in my opinion, is to get your entire team on the same page BEFORE  the local season actually begins.  Your entire team must "buy in" to your goals.  Is your team going to try to win the sectional and try to win nationals?  Is your team going to play to "have fun?"  Is the goal at sectionals to let "everyone play," or is it to put your "best team forward."   You can see the unasked question.  Do we want to win this or not?

If the goal is to win, then here is a list of things that must occur before you go to sectionals/nationals, and what must occur at the sites.

Before Sectionals

1) Before the local season begins, get the commitments from everyone about sectionals and nationals. If someone cannot commit to both, it may be best to leave them off the roster, and let them play for someone else's team that year.  Ensure that everyone knows that the weakest players and weakest doubles teams will not play too often, and at sectionals and nationals they likely won't play at all, save for fatigue, injury, or illness.
2) Designate your singles players (3-4).  These players will not play doubles unless they play with they're designated partner, who will also be one of these singles players.
3) Designate 4-5 doubles teams.  These teams cannot be broken up. If one teammate is unavailable, then the other teammate does not play either.  Teams play only with one another.  Period.  If team 1 cannot play because Judy can't be there that night, you play one of your other teams. This way your doubles teams know who they're playing with at all times for the entire season, can practice and do lessons with that teammate, and can develop the chemistry necessary to win at sectionals and nationals.
4) Prior to the season starting, play matches against everyone (singles and doubles) within your team to determine your hierarchy in singles and doubles.
5) Play your strengths throughout the local season, ensuring that everyone on your team plays the requisite two or three matches needed to qualify for sectionals.

During Sectionals/Nationals

1) Play your strengths EVERY match.  Only substitute your weaker singles players or doubles teams if fatigue, injury or illness occurs. Remember that if one player on one of your starting 3 doubles teams cannot play, that team is out (both players), and your next best team should play.
2) Do not be tempted to attempt to determine what teams in your round robin bracket aren't any good. There is really no way to know. Your team goal is to beat everyone like a drum so you win the group outright.  Don't leave a "wildcard" position (one of the 2nd place teams) to chance. When you play your weaker teams on purpose, you open yourself up to losing the team match and falling behind in the tiebreaks (matches won, sets won, games won).  Leave nothing to chance.
3) Ignore your weaker teammates' pleas to play.  You already discussed what your team's goals are, and by their commitment to the team, they agreed to the rules and standards by which you are running the team.  Winning and letting everyone play are incompatible.  It's just the harsh reality.  On any team there are starters and subs. The subs play either very little or not at all.

The key to a successful run is impeccable ORGANIZATION, and proper COMMUNICATION of goals, standards, and procedures. The teams that have captains that follow these simple rules, will have the best chance to win at sectionals AND nationals.