Team Selection

[Geof]

Can I ask all you members out there how your club or county select teams.It's very difficult to keep everybody happy I know.I would be interested in opinions on the best method? Has anybody developed a system that works well?

[NigelDiplock]

I'm sure this has always been a perennial problem at any club where there are more players than team places!

I think there's something to be said for initially asking players who they feel happy partnering (or maybe even who they wouldn't even consider partnering!), as a happy player tends to be better (and try harder) than an unhappy one of similar ability. Obviously, as you say, you can't please everyone, and I guess that committee selection has to have a place somewhere in the process.

I'm not sure I agree with some clubs who have a single selection evening, during which everyone plays with a view to impressing the committee! However, if there's time, then a few such evenings could be beneficial, especially in the latter stages of selection where pairings are being considered.

Fortunately, I don't get involved in that side of things now (been there, done that, annoyed too many people!), but I do sympathise with those unlucky souls who still do!

[johng]

We form a selection committee and simply select teams on order of playing ability, this seems to work fairly well with only a few complaints (but basically any system will get complainants)

One club close to us gets all its members to list the players in strength order, these lists are then collated and the order in which they fall becomes the team structure for that year....their selection committee only gets involved in situations where problems arise, such as travel problems or married couples playing in same team when for babysitting purposes etc they wish not to be

[LaoLiu]

Browsing some 'old' posts and couldn't help to follow this one about team selection.

A county junior had the following results at the county restricted tournaments:
U15: Singles, doubles and mixed champions;
U17: Semi in singles and final in doubles.
Age: U14

Was he too young to be selected for the county team for U17 ICT? This is purely an academic discuss since the decision was a thing in the past.

[caztaylor]

I've been a selector at club level and still am at county level and there is no doubt truth in the comment that you will get complaints with any system.
At club we used a number of methods based around a committe. Every year some-one would complain. They moan to other members and create bad feeling but very rarely will they actually speak to any of the selectors about it. The most frustrating thing is that none of the members who complain loudly in September when the teams are picked are prepared to stand up and volunteer to be on the selection committee the following year, even when they are specifically asked because they were not happy. Those people you will never please! Selection even at club level is not easy and club members who are not prepared to take it on themselves should think twice about critising those that do.

[Michael Banks]

On another thread it was mentioned that a good way of selecting players was to have someone unattached to the club choosing. Then there is no nepotism or friendly picking go on and the team can be picked objectively on ability.

[ukplayer]

An independent person is a good idea in principle but you have to make sure that this is an experienced player/coach. A club always benefits from having an independent coach in that they can pick teams and partnerships. Sometimes it's difficult to split a partership up even if it is the best interests of the club team and the players involved. Universities like Birmingham do so well because they have this facility, and it doesn't fall primarliy to the captain who might pick his mate instead of the player that's worked hard for the place.

[caztaylor]

An independent coach/selector to pick teams is a great idea but too expensive for many clubs as the independent person would have to visit at least a few times to be able to comment and I guess there won't be many who will do this for free. Would put fees up in many clubs. Good in a perfect world though.

[jimmy]

i have been an international player for 15 years and still to this day i havnt seen a good selection method.from club level to international level it is so hard to get it right.over the last 3 seasons i have been amongst the selections for quite a few events seeing many different methods, team events and individual.being slected for some and not for others which can mean a big difference to your income.the selectors will always have their favourites and i think it is almost impossible to get it right.there will always be someone who thinks its wrong.

[ADZ1]

Xuagang, I had similar results to that instead I won it all, the u15 singles mixed and doubles also the u17 singles mixed and doubles (6 titles), I did that at 14 but WAS picked for the ICT team?! Strange,eh? I mean how different areas work?