To play on a team, or not to play on a team…

Team play can be quite the rewarding feeling. I know many players that play better during their team matches than in their singles matches. For the past couple years, I have only been participating in the singles and scotch doubles events at nationals in Vegas. Mainly, because:

1. At first, most people assumed I was already playing on a women’s masters team so they didn’t bother to ask.
2. I’ve been traveling so much that it’s difficult to even get qualified.
3. I didn’t mind having the extra time since I’ve been busy with interviews the past couple years anyway.
4. Or, perhaps I’m really that difficult to play on a team with so no one wants to deal with me. I wouldn’t overlook that possibility. Ya never know.

Whatever the case, a couple days ago, I was approached about playing on a super strong women’s masters team for BCA nationals next year. I feel so honored that they would consider me. And also, that they would ask me so far in advance.

I also had been contemplating playing on an open/mixed team for next year with five strong open guys. I have three in mind and that could be fun also.

I hate that the masters divisions are getting smaller and smaller each year. I seem to recall the year that we won, there were 17 teams and we won 6 grand. However, this year, with only 8 teams, first place paid $5,500. Go figure.

It’s unfortunate. Far too often, when teams do well in the open, the disband and form new open teams instead of just playing in the masters. Since you can only have one master player on an open team and only three original players from a top-finishing team, teams feel they have a better chance of just forming new open teams. That means the masters divisions will continue to get smaller and smaller.

I don’t know what kind of incentive players need to step up and play in the masters. I will be very sad if I join the masters team and there are only 8 or less teams next year…

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