Team Captain Tips to Boost Commitment, Fun and Long-Term Loyalty 🏆 

Being the captain or coach of an adult pickleball league team can feel a little like being a coach, cheerleader, conflict mediator and cruise director — sometimes all at once. The trick? Turning your team into a crew that wants to show up, compete hard and stick around for the next season because their personal needs are met and respected.

Story Time...

I've been fortunate to be involved in several pickleball league teams in different regions and roles:  player, captain and coach. 

I'm writing this article because, unfortunately, there are some dysfunctional pickleball teams.  Often the culture of the team is established by the captains and/or the coaches of the team. Personally, I've participated in highly-functional and drama-free championship pickleball teams -- and one dysfunctional, drama-ridden team built upon a foundation of insecurity, disrespect and ineffective communication led by a captain and a coach.

Leading an adult team, especially a 55+ adult team, is going to be quite different than leading a youth or college team.  And, it's going to be different than leading a work team.  Some captains and coaches make the mistake of attempting to run a team with old school "command and control" tactics which might work in a work setting or paramilitary operation and will likely backfire in a recreational setting. Many adults have a zero or low tolerance towards double standards, gossip, favoritism, being treated like children or employees, etc.; conversely, some adults on the courts operate as if they're still in grade school 🥺 ... 

Here are some practices that have failed in adult league settings (some of which I either experienced, observed or heard about):

• says one thing to some players and other things to other players, not realizing they talk...(Adults can tell or sense dishonesty and withholding...)
• attempted to bribe non-players with stickers if they went to away games and cheered.  (Pretty sure, everyone finished potty training 🤣)
• separated the team into the A Team (match players) and the B Team (non-match players) during all drills and scrimmages. (⬇️ tanked trust, cohesiveness and feeling of belonging)
• played the B Team players during matches they didn't think the A Team players could win.  (🐺Threw B Team players to the wolves and tanked their ratings...)
• released line-ups the day before matches to force non-players to attend -- even when they knew they had other important matters in which to attend.  (⛓️‍💥 treated players like low value employees) 
• erroneously attacked players based on one toxic player's attempt at backstabbing (🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️ like bad managers at work, pickleball players will run away from bad team captains and coaches even if they enjoy other people on the team) 
• punished players for being curious, informative or non-conforming.  (🛣️ ugh, who wants "my way or the highway" attitudes in their recreational pursuit?)
  • asking questions during drills that they didn't know how to answer (🪞yikes, their insecurity is showing...)
  • asked players to stop using strategies and skills their paid coaches teach/taught them (must only rely on the coach's YouTube education 🤣)
  • punished non-players for not showing to matches (assigned unnecessary jobs/roles to "force" compliance. people wondered where their paycheck was 💵 🤣)
  • told members they could quit if they didn't like how things were run (naturally, a third of the group said, "Bye!")   

So, before you decide to step up to lead a team of passionate and talented pickleball players, consider the legacy that you would like to leave after the season ends.  Will your team end the season happily intact, or will you lose a high percentage of players mid-season and the respect from other local players who heard about the score?  The ball's in your court.

Whether you’re a first-time league leader or a seasoned team wrangler, these strategies will help you build a stronger, more committed team—and keep the vibes fun and drama-free.  Sharing a vision isn't enough... 

🧲 1. Pick Players for Chemistry, Not Just Skill

It’s tempting to go after the “best” players—but team chemistry often matters more than killer serves.

Look for players who:

• Show up consistently

• Support partners instead of blaming

• Have a team-first attitude

• Can laugh off a net cord loss

A few extra points won won't make up for tension that makes people dread showing up.

📅 2. Set the Tone Early—And Keep It Positive

At the start of the season, even before the season starts, send a group message or meet up to:

• Establish group expectations: be on time, communicate conflicts, support each other, no badmouthing about other players, etc.

• Clarify roles: who’s tracking scores, who’s organizing snacks, carpooling, etc.

• As a team, determine and agree on your vibe:  a) win at all costs (even if everyone doesn't play), b) be competitive and serious (with everyone playing at least x number of games), c) friends first (play everyone as equally as possible), d) ???, e) ???, etc.

• Establish an open-door policy:  invite them to reach out to you if they're struggling, will be going out of town, etc.  Also, create boundaries to prevent gossip, drama, throwing their partner(s) under the bus, etc. as this will ultimately affect your positive culture.

When people feel aligned, they stay invested. Plus, a little pre-season bonding goes a long way.

🧠 3. Focus on Mindset and Match Confidence

Losing streak? Tough opponents? League pressure can throw people off. As captain, you can help by:

• Keeping the team focused on effort and improvement, not just wins

• Reminding struggling players that everyone has off days

• Celebrating small wins (like a great rally or improved third-shot drop)

Want a leg up? Share resources to help teammates build mental resilience and smarter strategy.  Join or log in now to Your Pickleball Journey's Pickleball Coaching Collective.

📲 4. Stay Connected Off the Court

Your communication threads aren't just for sub requests—it’s for building team culture.

Post:

• Match schedules and recaps

• Funny pickleball memes (or teammate highlight reels)

• Positive shoutouts when someone plays well

The more connected your team feels, the more likely they are to stay engaged and rejoin next season.

In our free community, you can ask me what I think works best for league teams and why...

🥳 5. Celebrate Like a Champ (Win or Lose)

Make it a tradition:

• End-of-season dinner or happy hour (avoid shop talk)

• Weekly “player of the match” awards

• A trophy for “most improved” or “best attitude”

These rituals create shared memories—and team identity that lasts beyond the league.

🔁 6. Plan for Next Season—Now

Don’t wait until the last week to ask, “You guys in again next season?” Start planting the seed mid-season:

• Ask teammates what’s working (and what’s not)

• Start a waitlist or ask returning players to recommit

• Offer a small incentive (like free t-shirts or free drills) for early sign-ups

Early enthusiasm keeps the team momentum strong and gives you time to rebuild smarter if someone can’t return.

🎯 Final Thoughts: A Great Captain Builds a Great Culture

You don’t have to be the best player on the team—you just have to create the environment where people want to show up, play hard, and come back for more.

Focus on connection, communication and shared growth, and you’ll lead a team that plays well and stays together.

👥 Want More Support Leading Your Team?

• 💬 Get 24/7 support, strategies and feedback.  Join or log in to our Pickleball Coaching Collective:

• 🧠 Get 1-on-1 or group mindset and performance coaching to accelerate your development. Sign up for a free coaching session.

• 📚 Download pickleball e-books and other resources to track your progress and build better habits.

• Get leadership tips, practice ideas, and confidence tools: at e-books and other resources.

• Chat with other captains and players 24/7

• Join live video coaching meetups and watch parties

• Access exclusive tools for team development and tracking

Because great captains don’t just build teams—they build community.