Connie the Competitor

Connie wants to win, win, win regardless of the game, the opponent, the stakes, the circumstance. She does really energize the team. She is a great cheerleader and she is always urging everyone to do their best. She adds a terrific dimension to your team. Unfortunately, she also causes some problems.

Last game she didn't get it that Terry wasn't trying to throw the ball into the dirt when an opponent was stealing third base. The pitch had been low and outside to a right-handed batter and he had to make a backhand stop and throw off balance. She blocked the throw and came up hollering at Terry. As you had already found out, Terry doesn't appreciate undeserved criticism and you had to settle things down in the dugout between innings.

She also has a problem with letting her personal goals get into conflict with the team's goals. Sometimes the Wolf forgets about the Pack.

Situation:

It's the postgame meeting and you are going through which parts of the game went O.K. and which parts needed to be looked at next practice. It's not a happy time, because the Falcons lost a tough game, 3-2, with the league leading Broncos.

Just as you get to the need to lay off bad pitches, Connie, with a shrug of her shoulders, says, “I went 2 for 5.” What you remember is that in the last inning, you signaled Connie to sacrifice the tying runner on first to second and she fouled off two bunt attempts and then she popped up to the catcher.

You have a suspicion that Connie had messed up the bunt attempts so she could try to go 3 for 5. You have also heard her dad say, “Connie's going for the league batting title and, if I know her, she's going to get it.”

The Needs of the Team:

The players have to be thinking of the needs of the team above their own, individual needs. All great players know, instinctively, that in order to get their personal goals met they have to help meet the goals of the team.

(In the midst of his 56 game hitting streak, Joe DiMaggio asked Manager Joe McCarthy if he wanted him to move a runner up with a sacrifice bunt - McCarthy told him to hit away.)

Possible Actions:

Be very clear to her and to the other team members on what the main goal of the team is: “Connie, I don't care if you went 5 for 5; we lost.”

During the next practice, remind her about the Wolf and the Pack. “Connie, you have to decide whether you're a Lone Wolf, or you’re still a Wolf and a member of the Pack. If you're going to be a Lone Wolf, you may want to play for a different team. As you know, we insist that you players work together as a team.”

Connie’s Issue: Ego - Membership