League Advice??

C

Cmbeers

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ok, I usually don't do this, but this is driving me crazy. Last night at league I get put in against a player one skill level below me. Thus a 3/2 race. First game I make a mistake and he gets me. My caption sighs and gives me a look of disgust as he slumps back in his chair. (This irratates me)
Anyhow, second game I get my opponet gets down to one ball left. I shoot a run of 3 balls and get out of shape on my last ball. I look at it for a minute, turn around and ask the caption if I can get a time out. He stands up looks at me and says, "You should have asked for that on the last f**kin ball". Now I'm pissed. I said "alright f**k it" get down slam the ball, miss, and lose the match.

I go over to him and tell him if he wants me off the team, just say the word. He just mumbles something under his breath. Now the other teams captain comes up to me and is telling me that our captain was way out of line with that. As do many other players on my team and those who saw what had happened.

Our yearly titleholders event is in 2 weeks. We won first in our divsion last 2 sessions and last titleholders we placed 3rd. I'm about to say screw it and not show because of this crap. Am I wrong?? I hate to do that to the team, but I really cannot shoot when I have a captain with no faith in me.

Just to give some background on myself. I go between a 4 and a 5 in Tap. I took a 17 year break in pool and May 2011 made my first full year back. Last session I had 8 wins 3 losses. This session I am now (including last night) 2 for 2. Not a great player, but good. I show up all the time and go with the flow.

I'm just curious how others that have done this league stuff for awhile, would handle this.

Thanks,
Chris (just venting:angry::angry:)
 
He was out of line. There is a time and a place for discussion, and if he wanted to point out that you should have used the time-out earlier, that time is AFTER the match. Or at least between games.

Sometimes many folks who end up as "captain" don't have any sort of coaching experience. In any type of team endeavors. And that's too bad. They don't seem to understand that keeping their players "head in the game" is a major part of leading any type of team, and to act like your captain did at the time that he did was the wrong thing to do.

My advice? Go back and play. Don't make a big deal out of it. Maybe he realizes how silly he acted, and has learned his lesson. If he hasn't, make your decision after the season/playoffs. Now isn't the time for team drama. (I say this last part from a similar position... sigh. Different issue, same foolishness, wrong time for it.)

And try to have fun. You'll do better if you're having fun. Good luck!
 
Cmbeers said:
Ok, I usually don't do this, but this is driving me crazy. Last night at league I get put in against a player one skill level below me. Thus a 3/2 race. First game I make a mistake and he gets me. My caption sighs and gives me a look of disgust as he slumps back in his chair. (This irratates me)
Anyhow, second game I get my opponet gets down to one ball left. I shoot a run of 3 balls and get out of shape on my last ball. I look at it for a minute, turn around and ask the caption if I can get a time out. He stands up looks at me and says, "You should have asked for that on the last f**kin ball". Now I'm pissed. I said "alright f**k it" get down slam the ball, miss, and lose the match.

I go over to him and tell him if he wants me off the team, just say the word. He just mumbles something under his breath. Now the other teams captain comes up to me and is telling me that our captain was way out of line with that. As do many other players on my team and those who saw what had happened.

Our yearly titleholders event is in 2 weeks. We won first in our divsion last 2 sessions and last titleholders we placed 3rd. I'm about to say screw it and not show because of this crap. Am I wrong?? I hate to do that to the team, but I really cannot shoot when I have a captain with no faith in me.

Just to give some background on myself. I go between a 4 and a 5 in Tap. I took a 17 year break in pool and May 2011 made my first full year back. Last session I had 8 wins 3 losses. This session I am now (including last night) 2 for 2. Not a great player, but good. I show up all the time and go with the flow.

I'm just curious how others that have done this league stuff for awhile, would handle this.

Thanks,
Chris (just venting:angry::angry:)
Click to expand...

That's nothing.

Wait for a real problem and post again.

Jeff Livingston
 
Sounds like your captain has some issues and they probably aren't going to change. I would finish out the session or at least the tournament part and then look for another team or start one. I don't like personally playing with someone like that (I know they are competitive and want to win) but it makes playing uncomfortable.
 
As being a Captian of a team for the last 3 years, I believe that your Captian was totally out of line. With the rules that I follow while playing in VNEA, which is an unwritten rule, the player that is shooting goes to the other teams Captian to ask for a time out. If the other Captian isn't there then you can ask your Captian. This makes it fair for your oppenont and shows sportsmanship.

I play this way and I have never had any problems, I am a very respected team captian with in my league.

Good luck to you on this.
 
Sorry, this is the kind of thing that happens in league play these days and is only one of many reasons why I will probably never play in leagues again.
It's been close to twenty years or even more since I played in a league and I have absolutely no desire to do so now.
 
Thanks. I guess I will just calm down, finish out the session and move on. I'm starting to think this league stuff is not for me.

That's nothing.

Wait for a real problem and post again
Click to expand...
.
Thanks, That made me laugh !!!!
 
Your captain should be smart enough to understand that nobody can read anybody else's mind. (well, I can, but I know you knew that already)

This seems to happen all the time. Those of us that know understand that it is very easy to play the game from a chair. He knows how HE would have played it, and it wasnt the same as you. At the table, it is a whole new animal. And its alot harder when your own captain unknowingly sharks you.

Before it happens again, tell him about it. Respectfully ask him not to do it again. If it happens again, you make the call on what happens after that.
 
I believe you know what to do, so do it. This is a minor problem in pool and life. If you need help with this one, I feel for you.
 
Don't let one person keep you from the game you enjoy and the friends that you make weekly. Remember a coach is a suggestion, your the one pulling the trigger. [I hope trigger isn't offended]
 
One thing your captain was right about is you should have asked for a coach BEFORE you were hooked.

Jeff Livingston
 
Having gone through a similar experience myself, my advice to you would be to play on a team with people you already know. I only play in one league now and it's with guys that I'm friends with off the table as well as on. It's so much more enjoyable.
 
League does not have to be a bad thing. Sure, it can be bad, but in the right situation it can be very enjoyable.

The only league I play in is an 8 ball league with a group of friends. We are all decent players and are always in the top 3 or 4 in the final standings (league has appx 20 teams). If you look at us off the table, you would think we were one of the worst teams. We all concentrate on the table, but if we're not playing we are goofing off and ribbing each other, just generally having fun. It is a pretty enjoyable time. We win most of the time, but we still have a good time when we lose.

Find a team that you enjoy playing with. Get with some friends and enjoy the night. Try your hardest to win, but allow yourself some levity on the situation. Just enjoy life and if your captain is too negative, find a new team. I'm sure there is one out there you will jive with. If not, start your own.
 
I had this happen to me in my second session of league. I went 12-2 the first session and i was 10-1 when he tore my head off because i gave up a match to a player that was sending balls 3 rails and off of 3 different balls to slop in. I stayed for the rest of the session, then I took 1/2 his team and captained my own. 3 sessions later we won the city championship and are Vegas bound in August. Just keep your cool and look for something else after this season, or pull your captain aside and have a talk with him about it. Sometimes even the greatest leaders need to be put back in their place. Your his player, not his whipping boy.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
 
I agree with the above about finishing up. The rest of the team are probably counting on you (the captain too, really) if you are 8 and 3 for the session. I would have a private talk with him about the incident and make him aware not to do it again. Sometimes people speak before they think.
 
You let your captain get you out of your game. You probably wouldn't have had the problem and gotten hooked if you weren't dwelling on how your captain acted when you lost the first game.

Why not try putting some space between you and the team while you are playing the match so you aren't hearing the comments or paying attention to his facial expressions. Focus on what you are doing and not what the team is doing while you are playing.

When you feel like you are getting into trouble call the time out before you shoot the questionable or low percentage shot. Maybe a safety or a different approach would have helped keep you out of trouble.

Lastly have a conversation with your captain away from league play and tell him that you would like him to keep his critique of your match play until after you are finished with the match. Tell him it doesn't help to be told what you did wrong after the mistake is made. You know you made the mistake and you don't need him or anyone else telling you that you F'd up. You'd rather have constructive criticism and advice on how not to get in trouble the next time you shoot. Of course he might not get that finer point and you might be better off finding a team that is a better fit for you.

:cool:
 
Our local league has a "no coaching rule", no conversation concerning the game is allowed period. Even applies to our scotch doubles portion of the matches. Can make it interesting when you play a shot with a certain outcome in mind and your partner totally misses your intent.
 
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