Week 45 – BJK Cup Playoffs – GB v Sweden – Copper Box, London – Indoor Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

Week 45 – BJK Cup Playoffs – GB v Sweden – Copper Box, London – Indoor Hard

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
So.....who would people want as the new captain of the team should we get one?
Laura or Naomi

Why do people think that ex-players who have no experience as coaches would be good captains?

Laura is a commentator and ex-player. And very good at both. But she's never been involved in coaching (that I know of)

Not quite so sure about Naomi but I don't think so either.

It's not a question of having a well-known figurehead for promotion purposes - they'd both be fine for that - it's a question of serious coaching knowledge and experience

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Sunday 12th of November 2023 08:01:28 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I just think Laura and Naomi would tick the box in terms of personality, comms skills, tactical acumen and knowing the players as similar ages etc. it feels like it would just work. Wouldnt favour one over the other. Maybe both !

the addict · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
So.....who would people want as the new captain of the team should we get one?
Laura or Naomi
Ooooh yes.
Don't disagree. Bit it will no be Anne for the foreseeable.
Jodie in particular seems like someone that can change mood and focus wirh the flick of a switch. A captain that would even look for a switch would help

Experience of playing must be a key consideration. Laura has been there, but did Naomi ever make the squad ? I don't think Jo would want to get involved, but I bet Heather would jump at the chance in the future.

indiana · Tennis legend

IMO definitely people skills are at least as important as coaching skills for such a job.

The playets are there because they ate arguably our best. But they msy need help in producing at least near their best in such a tie.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
IMO definitely people skills are at least as important as coaching skills for such a job.

The playets are there because they ate arguably our best. But they msy need help in producing at least near their best in such a tie.

I would say that people skills are part and parcel of coaching skills smile

You couldn't split them out

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
indiana wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
So.....who would people want as the new captain of the team should we get one?
Laura or Naomi
Ooooh yes.
Don't disagree. Bit it will no be Anne for the foreseeable.
Jodie in particular seems like someone that can change mood and focus wirh the flick of a switch. A captain that would even look for a switch would help
Experience of playing must be a key consideration. Laura has been there, but did Naomi ever make the squad ? I don't think Jo would want to get involved, but I bet Heather would jump at the chance in the future.

Im not sure it needs the player to have been our best, Naomi played Wimbledon , the tour and has played to a good standard. And she knows and reads the game well- Im sure the players would respect her or Laura if they got the chance

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

We've won the Davis Cup with someone who never played top level tennis

It's an attribute, but not a key one

I can't see Naomi ever getting the nod (and the twins must take up a fair bit of time, although that's not to say she couldn't organise herself around it, just can't see her ever being asked).

Laura doesn't seem to be part of the LTA mob either.

Steve J · Lower Club Player

Blue_Belle wrote:
So.....who would people want as the new captain of the team should we get one?

Is there an under 55 British player who has who has both won a FedCup match and been a successful coach?

PS Hasn't Ms. Robson said that she doesn't want to coach?

-- Edited by Steve J on Sunday 12th of November 2023 08:12:48 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Steve J wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
So.....who would people want as the new captain of the team should we get one?
Is there an under 55 British player who has who has both won a FedCup match and been a successful coach?

Katie O'Brien?

The fact that she is captain of the Junior BJK squad may mean she's being primed for adult duty

Lambda · Challenger level

Naomi always refused to play the Fed Cup. Unless she's reconciled her differences with the LTA she won't want to do it.

-- Edited by Lambda on Sunday 12th of November 2023 08:16:37 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I was totally forgetting that age old nonsense between the LTA and the Broadys ( in particular Naomi and pa ).

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Well , there is only one answer left. Jeremy Bates, your country needs you!

That orDan Evans?

Or maybe Andy Murray??

Or Amelie Mauresmo?

Or Ivan Lendl is now free?

Take your pick !

Ps Andy was semi serious !

PaulM · Tennis legend

Why is serious coaching knowledge and experience relevant? The 'captain' is primarily a figurehead position for a couple of weeks a year. They don't work with the players rest of the season, and there's a support team which includes additional hitting partners and tactical coaches that can be talked to throughout the match, and gather data on opponents to feed into prep. We've done the whole 'just make someone senior from the federation captain' (i.e. just give it to Iain Bates) before. The players aren't going to be changing anything fundamental in the week they are away from their own teams anyway.

The only relevant quality to me is being a good leader - able to understand the needs of the player and communicate effectively to support them through ebbs and flows and stress points to enable them to perform to their best. And being someone who is a figurehead that creates a team environment people want to be part of an inspires loyalty and good performance. Any technical tactical nous is a bonus but not necessary, I don't think. Jodie didn't lose because she didn't have someone feeding tactical pointers, but because she didn't have a captain who could help her get out her own way.

For me, Anne's ability to create the right environment for players in the build up is there. Players are having fun, relaxed, wanting to get out there and perform. She's liked and respected and been there. But she's not able to deal with her own nerves on the bench, which then limits her ability to support players when they need it. It's fine when they are ok (you could see her keeping it light in both today's matches and chatty) but when it's getting rough it's a wall of silence and glum faces.

Even in the final interview she was talking about how much it means to her. That's great, you want someone who cares. But it can also create negative energy in the moment when you want something too much.

Anyway, just my two pennies! It's not like Canada won the whole thing because Heidi is a tactical maestro.

Judy was a good mix.

-- Edited by PaulM on Sunday 12th of November 2023 09:05:06 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree with you to a degree, PaulM.
Captaincy certainly requires good leadership skills as a must. It may well be the most important skill.
But if you look at Leon, there is quite a lot of 'coaching' too.
I remember when Leon brought in Liam for hitting practice, for instance, when there was a left-handed player on the other team and he spent a lot of time preparing his players against Liam, working on key plays. He didn't just say 'you know how to play lefties, I believe in you'.
Equally, I remember once when he was very hands-on when they went on clay, and even Evo said Leon was really helpful for his clay game in terms of tactics (coz Dan obviousy is not a lover of clay)
The captain has to scout out the other players, the court surface, the weather etc etc, highlight weaknesses/problems etc, as well as really understand what weapons and weaknesses her own players have and advise how to put the best tennis out there. I've seen so much team tennis, and the level that some players can produce if properly captained/coached is SO miles better than their level in an individual competition, it's just amazing.