DENIED!

Oct 18, 2006 11:35

Well... despite being more then good enough to have good games in B+, being allowed to play in the B+ and A summer session, and my dellusions that now it's Stuart plus 2 other coaches the grading process would now be fairer, they said "NO". I missed it "by a whisper", it was "a very hard choice".

The Club has decided to stamp down on the falling standards of the sessions, and enforce a technique-is-everything approach to grading. Nevermind that I don't get any good games where I am now, and happily play with the top of B+ (team players) on a regular basus, oh no, my backhand grip is wrong and they want to see me reach my potential, have coaching, get better. For one, that seems so awfully corrupt towards their own ends it's appalling (being paid coaches). Secondly, I usually play once, twice a week, socially. Just because I have to satisfy their conditions, I need to now put aside time and expense (on top of costly membership) towards coaching. Wtf! None of the players in B+ could believe this decision, so I'm not just an arrogant twat, I can actually play comfortably to that level.

I was so angry and upset yesterday, after arguing with them for a while I walked off, pissed off that my eyes had all watered up. And all my friends in the session saw me crying and enraged ("shower of bastards" was used a lot, great phrase Rob) while I told papa what had happened. Surprised at how awake I am now, as I was so tense and annoyed I couldn't sleep at all.

I was on the verge of just quitting the Club, not renewing my membership in protest. I don't want to pay £250 odd (just going onto adult fee I think) so I can only play on the Sunday with my friends in B+, and then an extra session fee on top to play in the B session which I feel is pointless for me if I want to improve and enjoy my games. Booking courts to play myself is becoming increasingly difficult from demand, especially in the weekday evenings when almost impossible, so when can I play? If I was in B+, I would be in the team (Captains who were expecting me to get the upgrade had me down for reserves already, prefering me to their current ones) and playing in the league, and playing each Tuesday evening and enjoying it thoroughly. But no, for your long-term plan of improving the standards in the session, you won't put me up until I achieve *your* ideal of what a B+ session should be, not what it is currently (half the ladies are quite weak).

This wouldn't be quite so bad, if they hadn't been so bloody inconsistent. The upgrade for existing members already graded is a 2-week process, playing in your current grade and then if you satisfy them playing the next week in the upper grade, for a final evaluation. After complaints, it has been changed now to be a panel of 3 coaches judging. However, new members or non-graded people don't do any of that, they play in the Beginners and Improvers session (C/C+ level) and get graded by 1 coach still (bloody Stuart, grr). 2 weeks ago, the coach Stuart had just graded a guy B+ ("he's top of B+" were his words) and asked if he could play with our friendly social group on the Sunday, mostly B+ people. He was AWFUL. He turned up last Sunday too (uninvited), and I played with him last night and he's is nowhere near B+ standard, and everyone I've spoken to agrees and does not want to play with him because he's so CRAP. I can't bring this up with them, as it'll just come across as spiteful, but at least one person has complained so far, and I hope enough do that they will re-evaluate him and apply similar grading procedures to newcomers, for consistencey.

All in all, pretty pissed. Thanks a lot coaches, you fucking jerks.

On a brighter note, I'm wearing 1 of 2 new tops I got from Jigsaw yesterday. After a incredivly frustrating and depressing trip to Oxford Circus, and yesterday to Monsoon and Wallis, I had all but given up on finding any new clothes I liked on the highstreet! Jigsaw is stupidly expensive, but...I picked up a whole bunch of stuff I liked the look of in minutes, and I was rushed yet managed to buy 2 lovely tops in 10mins, and plan to go back for a longer look. And they do tops with LONG sleeves, not ghey 3/4 ones! And after my horrible evening at baddy, I came home to a jiffy bag covered in purrin (brilliant!) and a super-cute pressie from Choco. Arigatou again~! <3
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