Since the league season has hit its stride and emotions are running high on the courts,
I thought I’d rehash an article I wrote last year regarding doubles partnerships.
Most of the play around the club revolves around doubles, so I thought I’d write
about doubles partnerships, or, more specifically, how to be a good partner to avoid conflict.
In order to be a good partner, one must accept two basic assumptions: 1) We all try our hardest 2) We all want to succeed
Regarding effort, I have never known anyone who started a match thinking to himself,
“I don’t feel like trying very hard today, so I think I’ll dog it.”
Regarding desire, I have never known anyone who started a match thinking to himself,
“I’d really love to lose today.”
So if you accept that all partners try their hardest and want to succeed, then you can
see that some actions or words can build or damage a partnership. Behaviors that support,
encourage, cooperate, and compliment build partnerships, so I’ve added a short
“dos and don’ts” list below.
Do… support your partner Don’t… blame your partner
A simple “Don’t worry about it…you’ll make the next one” is appropriate.
Do… offer encouragement Don’t… offer “helpful” advice
We all like to help, but nobody likes to play with the coach.
Do… let your partner be himself or herself Don’t… try to make your partner someone they’re not
Everyone has their own set of strengths and weaknesses that make them a good partner. Our job as a
good partner is to allow our partner to play his game.
Do… compliment your partner Don’t… berate your partner
Yelling, “Just make it!” results in more misses than makes. In fact, some well-timed compliments can turn a match around.
Do… keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself Don’t… maintain a running commentary
Commenting on a shot you just made or missed is always inappropriate. And when someone else on the
court hits a winning shot, a simple “Nice shot” is enough.
Do… treat your partnership as a contract Don’t… renege on a deal
A partnership should be built on friendship, trust, and common goals. Therefore, treat it as such.
If you are unsure about committing to a teammate for the season, then set a specific number of matches
(4-6) you will play together to test the waters. Once you have a better feel for how your partner feels
and plays, then you can better determine whether you should continue or end your partnership.
So before you step on the court, remember what good partners do and don’t do, and let winning take care of itself.
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1) We all try our hardest
