Playing tennis as a team - how to get the most out of team tournaments
Editor Lizzie reflects on the importance of working together and what exactly makes a good tennis team-mate…
I recently captained the U14 Avon girls’ team to victory at the County Cup National Finals. Unseeded and missing our second highest ranked player, it was an outstanding (and unexpected) achievement, that certainly could not have been won without self-belief, hard work but above all, teamwork - and it was this that inspired me to write this post…
Tennis is rather famously an individual sport. As players we need to be fiercely independent, single-minded and immensely strong-willed. You could perhaps at times call us selfish. We are used to being our own captains, making all our own decisions – and winning or losing because of them.
But sometimes we do have to play as part of a team . Maybe it’s a Friday night club league or school fixture, perhaps a Team Tennis tie or County Cup… and they’re truly brilliant to be a part of.
Judy Murray recently tweeted: “…we should have so much more focus on team events in tennis. Fun. Friendship. Fitness. Not to mention all the life skills U develop by being part of a team sport.”
And I couldn’t agree with her more. But to do it with success and learn these life skills isn’t always easy for players - there are still a lot of lessons to be learned about what makes an independent, self-reliant individual adopt the role of brilliant team-mate.
But it can be done. Here are my top five tips to help you get there…
1) Respect the captain’s decision
It’s common in any sport that the squad is bigger than the team on the field, and not everyone can play every minute of every match. Captains need reserves and alternative options – and they have to make tough decisions about selection, balancing a range of factors to put out the best combinations of players for any given match. A foundation of any good team is that each squad member accepts the captain’s selection and has a positive approach to the match whether they are out competing on the field or supporting from the sidelines.
In tennis this can be a particularly challenging skill to develop, because of it being such a self-directed sport, but it’s essential to trust your captain – they will prioritise the best interests of the team and not any individual.
2) Leave your ego at home
Being part of a team is all about a united front. “There’s no ‘I’ in team” may be a cliché, but it’s true. There is no room for any ego or anyone feeling they are not of equal value to anyone else.
Every kind of contribution is vital to the team’s success. It could be filling up your team-mate’s water bottle at a change of ends, helping a fellow player warm up or consoling them after a defeat when they’re not ready to talk to the captain yet. Every moment is a piece of the jigsaw puzzle of a team’s success - and everyone needs to do their part to get the final picture.
3) Embrace your crew
Some of your team-mates might not necessarily be your natural best friends. They might even be your fiercest rival in normal times. Or maybe your personalities tend to clash. And that’s ok – it happens in all team sports, workplaces and any shared endeavour.
But it’s important to not let any of these differences be felt in your team. You all have the same goal – and the team can only perform to its best if everyone has that mindset.
Remember how rare it is for tennis players to enjoy that team vibe - so embrace it when you get the chance! Love the buzz that comes from wearing the same kit, building friendships, cheering each other on and that secure feeling that your crew has your back.
4) Be a 24-hour team-mate
For many team events there’s more to being together than just being at the tournament venue. You might all be travelling on a bus together or staying overnight in a hotel. These team experiences away from the site are just as important to the team’s success.
Be a good room-mate: respect each other’s need for sleep. If your team-mate has forgotten their suncream, help them out. And help each other to respect the rules set by the captain, such as curfews and agreed boundaries for using social media. Make it your mission to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and included. That’s how you create a team culture to be proud of - and get the best from each member.
5) Share the glory - and the pain
Whether win or lose, it’s the team’s result. There is no individual glory – or blame. However well a particular player or pair has performed, a brilliant victory in a team event is always down to all the pieces of that jigsaw puzzle.
And if it’s a disappointment, we all share in it and console each other - knowing we can learn lessons for next time.
For me, the County Cup National Finals were the best example of team work in tennis. Each Avon girl adopted the powerful mindset of team player, and at the end of the weekend the five girls collected their medals and asked the referee for a sixth. This was for their team-mate Sophia, who had helped us qualify, but was unable to play the final tournament.
She was on the phone every day to the girls, offering insights into opponents and giving her full support. All six girls in that team played their piece of the jigsaw puzzle for every moment of the tournament and together, they came away as champions. If that isn’t one of the best examples of tennis teamwork I don’t know what is.
Talking Tennis on the radio!
You can hear me talking about the girls’ amazing win on Radio Bristol (scroll to 39 mins 27 seconds) here: The Sports Store – 18/05/2022 – BBC Sounds
See also:
A gift for life - why every child should learn to play tennis
How to be a good sportsperson: 12 Unwritten rules of tennis behaviour for junior players
Talking Tennis with… Sarah Borwell, founder of Tennis Smart
Lizzie Flint is a writer and a practicing level 3 LTA professional tennis coach.
She has been in love with the game since picking up a racquet at the age of four – and she has seen it from every possible angle: playing, analysing and reporting on tennis all over the world. Read more about Lizzie here.