Okay, so, I gotta tell you about this whole “North Shore League Tennis” thing I got myself into. I’d been itching to get back on the court for a while, you know? Used to play a bit in college, nothing serious, but I missed the thwack of the ball and the whole competitive vibe.
So, I heard about this North Shore League from a buddy. He’s like, “Dude, you should check it out, it’s a good mix of fun and competition.” I’m thinking, “Alright, why not?” I wasn’t looking to go pro or anything, just wanted to get a decent workout and maybe make some new friends.
First thing I did was to find out about tryouts. Turns out, they’re a big deal. You gotta show up, show them what you’ve got, and they rank you based on how you play. No skipping tryouts, they said, it is mandatory. I dusted off my old racket, found some slightly-less-old tennis shoes, and headed over to the courts.
Man, let me tell you, those tryouts were something. There were all sorts of players there, some looking super serious, others more chill like me. We did some drills, played a few practice matches, and the coaches were watching us like hawks. I tried my best, of course, but I was definitely rusty! It was fun though, got the blood pumping, and I felt pretty good after. You do not have to be a member of BRTC but I was.
After the tryouts, they put us into different divisions based on our skill level. I ended up in one of the intermediate divisions, which I thought was fair. I mean, I wasn’t terrible, but I wasn’t gonna be winning any championships either. I heard they had 7 levels and 13 divisions, and I was so excited.
Then came the actual matches. We played against teams from other clubs in the North Shore area. Some of these clubs were pretty fancy, I gotta say. I even saw some folks wearing’ matching outfits! Our team was a mix of characters. We had this one guy who was super competitive, always strategizing and analyzing every point. Then there was this other lady who was just there for a good time, laughing off her mistakes and cheering everyone on. It was a blast. It’s got all the info ya need, like schedules, results.
We played matches during the day, and sometimes in the evening. I liked the evening matches better because it was cooler and I felt like I had more energy. It is a travel tennis league for member clubs.
We won some, we lost some. I wasn’t keeping track of my personal record or anything. I just wanted to have fun and get better. I did improve though, my serves got a bit more consistent, and my backhand wasn’t as atrocious as it used to be. I also met some cool people, and we’d sometimes grab a drink after the matches. I also know there are options for men, women, and mixed.
All in all, it was a great experience. I’d definitely recommend the North Shore League to anyone looking for some casual tennis action. It’s a good way to stay active, meet people, and enjoy the sport. Just don’t expect to become the next Serena Williams or anything, haha!