So, I’ve been getting into this Fairfield County Men’s Tennis League thing lately. It’s been a ride, let me tell you.
It all started when I was looking for a way to get some exercise and meet new people. I’ve always enjoyed tennis, but never really played competitively. A buddy of mine mentioned this league, and I figured, “Why not?”
First thing I had to do was find a team. Turns out, there are a bunch of teams in the area, some connected to clubs like this place called Roxbury, which apparently has like seven men’s teams in the league. I reached out to a few captains, got a feel for their vibe, and eventually landed on a team that seemed like a good fit.
Then came the registration. You need something called a USTA account for this. It’s basically like a membership thing for tennis players. It lets them track ranking and join leagues. I didn’t have one, so I created one online. That was pretty straightforward. After that, my team captain gave me a team number, and I plugged that in to officially register for the team. Boom, I was in!
We started practicing a couple of times a week. It was a bit of a wake-up call, realizing how out of shape I was. But it was also a blast. The guys on the team were all different ages and skill levels, but everyone was super supportive. We ran drills, played practice matches, and just generally got to know each other’s playing styles.
The league matches are doubles, which was new for me. I’ve always been more of a singles guy. But I quickly learned the strategy and teamwork involved in doubles, and it’s actually a lot of fun. Our team is set up by skill level, so I was playing with and against guys who were pretty evenly matched with me.
The season itself is a bit of a commitment. It started back in the fall around October 19th and 20th, and it goes on for a while. There’s this website, but I can’t mention it here, where they post the schedules and news and all that. But, it’s a great way to stay active and meet people.
- Find a team
- Get a USTA account
- Register with a team number
- Start practicing
- Play matches
We’re still in the thick of it, but I’m really enjoying it so far. It’s definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone, but in a good way. If you’re in the Fairfield County area and looking to play some tennis, I’d say give this league a shot. It’s a good time!
