Balancing strategy and fun

A

americanfighter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I may be picking up a team in the napa here soon the last time I had a
Team I started well and we were in first through the first half of the season however I did not have a strong team but I did have 2 good players but with good strategy in picking players I overcame that. I knew who to sacrifice when to sacrifice and when to play straight up.

However as time went on I gave in to the wishes of other people the better players wanted more of a challenge and the lesser players wanted more matches they could win instead of being sacrificed I wanted to win the league they just wanted to play pool. I wanted to say suck it up you are putting us on the right track to winning the season and it will all pay off in the end. However some of these people are my friends and I didn't want to be an a** or make people so unhappy they leave so I gave in to people's requests and next thing you know we are in last place and remained there for the season.

How do you balance a winning strategy with keeping your players happy
 
Strategy or fun?

americanfighter said:
I may be picking up a team in the napa here soon the last time I had a
Team I started well and we were in first through the first half of the season however I did not have a strong team but I did have 2 good players but with good strategy in picking players I overcame that. I knew who to sacrifice when to sacrifice and when to play straight up.

However as time went on I gave in to the wishes of other people the better players wanted more of a challenge and the lesser players wanted more matches they could win instead of being sacrificed I wanted to win the league they just wanted to play pool. I wanted to say suck it up you are putting us on the right track to winning the season and it will all pay off in the end. However some of these people are my friends and I didn't want to be an a** or make people so unhappy they leave so I gave in to people's requests and next thing you know we are in last place and remained there for the season.

How do you balance a winning strategy with keeping your players happy
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In my experience, not all league systems pose such problems.

Some leagues play a series of individual matches. Others use a format that every players gets to play every player on the other team...so "matching up" and "sacrificing" is not so much of an issue.
 
It sounds like some of your team members need a sharp slap upside the head and a swift kick in the pants. Quote Vince Lombardi to them. Leaders don't take crap!

Just kidding. I guess I'd let the team members decide what kind of team we're going to be. If one or two members don't agree with the majority's decision, they can find another team that matches their goals.
 
pwd72s said:
Just my opinion, and you know what people say about those....

League pool should be all about fun.
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bdorman said:
It sounds like some of your team members need a sharp slap upside the head and a swift kick in the pants. Quote Vince Lombardi to them. Leaders don't take crap!

Just kidding. I guess I'd let the team members decide what kind of team we're going to be. If one or two members don't agree with the majority's decision, they can find another team that matches their goals.
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These are both good. In my opinion, league is about competing and having fun; the two aren't mutually exclusive.

If you only care about winning, then you need to fill a roster with people who feel the same way.
 
Establish before the season why you are there. The team will either decide to be there to play and have fun, or to put winning as the primary focus. once you know what you have, then you can go from there. That, or you can tell people as they enter that if they want to be on the team, they have to understand that winning is the primary goal of this team, and tell them what that may mean for them.
 
krupa said:
If you only care about winning, then you need to fill a roster with people who feel the same way.
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This is my advice a well. Put together a team who cares only about winning and then they wont get upset about the top players playing when needed.

Good luck!

Can be a tough balance for sure.
 
Thanks guys this is all great advice but one problem

I live in a small town that has several available leauges every night of the week at least 6 bars with a league available
That May not sound like allot but for the smaller town I live in it is and if the players want to join a new team there is no shortage of available slots plus 3 of the guys that would be on my next team are friends.
 
Pretty simple. Just sit down with the team and discuss what your goals as a team are going to be. Then follow that decision.
Most of all, remember your not pros and this is for fun.
 
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