Interesting approach to team management

[Ghosst]

The backstory:

I avoided league for many years, for different reasons, but the common thread in all of them was the constant bickering and arguments. I've lived in a lot of places and everywhere I looked it seemed the same. On those occasions teams would play in the bowling alley on their league night I could see the bowlers having a good time, laughing and having fun. The pool players, no. It always seemed to be a life or death struggle. Sandbagging. Cheating. Anything to win.

This year I bit the bullet and joined after being badgered about it. I figured with two of the people whose company I don't enjoy not playing at all it might be ok. My first team disintegrated before the season began. Complaining and infighting in July? I chalked it up to standard high-school drama. I was asked to join another team and reluctantly agreed, then they disbanded too. I went to the league induction banquet just to see a few people and ended up drafted onto a third team.

It seemed, even to me, that I was setting myself up for a bad experience. I had mixed feelings about it from the get-go which isn't the best way to approach anything. I'd rather be positive than dread what I'm going to do. Playing on beer stained, unlevel, 7' tables with chipped balls and poor lighting just isn't pool for me. But playing on bad equipment should be part of anyone's repertoire.



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[Ghosst]

The Current Situation:

So, now I'm playing on a team and things are very good for the first few weeks. Then one of the players, going through some difficulties with his ex, has to miss a few matches. We're a little desperate for a substitute so I ask a friend who's not a terribly good shot, but he can put balls in the holes and get us points, to join.

The team captain takes this opportunity to tell us all that, "the lowest scoring shooter will get replaced after the first two rounds". He tells us this at the start of every night. From that point on, everyone starts shooting badly. After a second week with my friend subbing in, he's only won 1 game of 6 but I can't fault him for that. He was there to replace another person, on short notice, and just to get us some points. I get an angry text from the captain telling me it's my responsibility to tell him he's no longer on the team, and that the captain's personal friend will replace him. Again, the same rules apply; the lowest scoring shooter is replaced after two rounds.

Last week I had one of my own teammates shark me, yelling out, "HIT THE OTHER BALL!" in the middle of my stroke. All of this so presumably he wouldn't be the one ditched after two rounds. I stood up before making contact, tried to compose myself, and got back down. When I swung this time I hit it too soft and the ball stopped in the jaws. I don't normally have an issue with sharking but in this case it was more the fact my own teammate caused the problem than a random drunk or an angry opponent.

Now, I don't have years of league experience. I do have years of business management and I would never put a team under that kind of pressure. But, maybe it's fairly common in leagues?

What do you think; is this a good way or a bad way to run a team?




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[metallicane]

Not a good motivating technique.

 

[RobertaAgnor]

Wow I've never heard anything like that! I've been a member of a league for 22 years & took a break for a couple years because I started dreading playing every week but it wasn't as bad as what you describe.

 

[krupa]

Horrible way to manage a team.

Your story somehow makes me think of this guy.

Sorry your experience has been so bad; I've only played in leagues for a year but the worst I've seen are arguments between married teammates. Everyone around here's just looking to shoot pool and have fun (sometimes in the other order.)

 

[Banks]

I play pool after putting in my 40 hours so that I can relax and have fun. If I had that tool on my team(as a captain, no less!), I'd dump my games and tell him to go suck a fat one.

 

[OneIron]

I play in a scratch league and the players pony up a buck for every game lost. At the end of the session, the two players with the best winning percentage divide the post 60-40. Much better way to motivate your players.

 

[Ghosst]

Sorry your experience has been so bad ... Everyone around here's just looking to shoot pool and have fun (sometimes in the other order.)

Honestly I am not sure if I am enjoying it or not. I love pool, I've played since I was a child so any chance to get in there is good for me.

In the first few weeks of play I had another team ask if I could join them instead, and have been asked to sub up into a higher division. I couldn't join the other team in my division because I'd made a commitment to my captain and when I give my word, I honor it. As for the subbing up, I said that I would when it doesn't conflict with my team's matches.

My problem here isn't the pressure either; it's what it has done to the team. Playing under pressure is part of pool, in a tournament you only get 2 bad games as well.

Years of working in business always taught me to look at both sides; so I can understand the need to have the best players on your roster, but as a captain isn't it better to see what your decisions do to/for everyone and then adjust?

 

[Txstang1]

I would tell the captain to get lost. Although I wouldn't use that exact terminology though. Then ask him what he wants to play for.

 

[krupa]

The Current Situation:

So, now I'm playing on a team and things are very good for the first few weeks. Then one of the players, going through some difficulties with his ex, has to miss a few matches. We're a little desperate for a substitute so I ask a friend who's not a terribly good shot, but he can put balls in the holes and get us points, to join.

The team captain takes this opportunity to tell us all that, "the lowest scoring shooter will get replaced after the first two rounds". He tells us this at the start of every night. From that point on, everyone starts shooting badly. After a second week with my friend subbing in, he's only won 1 game of 6 but I can't fault him for that. He was there to replace another person, on short notice, and just to get us some points. I get an angry text from the captain telling me it's my responsibility to tell him he's no longer on the team, and that the captain's personal friend will replace him. Again, the same rules apply; the lowest scoring shooter is replaced after two rounds.

Last week I had one of my own teammates shark me, yelling out, "HIT THE OTHER BALL!" in the middle of my stroke. All of this so presumably he wouldn't be the one ditched after two rounds. I stood up before making contact, tried to compose myself, and got back down. When I swung this time I hit it too soft and the ball stopped in the jaws. I don't normally have an issue with sharking but in this case it was more the fact my own teammate caused the problem than a random drunk or an angry opponent.

Now, I don't have years of league experience. I do have years of business management and I would never put a team under that kind of pressure. But, maybe it's fairly common in leagues?

What do you think; is this a good way or a bad way to run a team?

.

Apparently, I did not read your posts very carefully the first time around. I just noticed the part that I put in bold.

I find it acceptable for a coach to set a policy like this, though I wouldn't play on his team. It's complete bullshit for him to then make it your responsibility to "fire" your teammate. He's the captain. It's his policy, therefore it's his responsibility.

 

[Ghosst]

Apparently, I did not read your posts very carefully the first time around. I just noticed the part that I put in bold.

I find it acceptable for a coach to set a policy like this, though I wouldn't play on his team. It's complete bullshit for him to then make it your responsibility to "fire" your teammate. He's the captain. It's his policy, therefore it's his responsibility.

The policy I wonder about is the, "lowest shooter gets replaced after two rounds". The part about me having to let a friend go was just part of the explanation.

 

[Atlatlien]

Part of being a captain is knowing your team's individual strengths and weaknesses so you can choose the right situations to post your people. Constantly rotating in replacement players would make it a hell of a lot harder to know your team. You might try figuring out who is the best manager and replacing your captain with someone who isn't a fascist dickhead....

I would ride out the session and then go jump on a different team. Even joining up with people you don't know at all, the situation couldn't get much worse IMO

 

[krupa]

The policy I wonder about is the, "lowest shooter gets replaced after two rounds". The part about me having to let a friend go was just part of the explanation.

The policy is also BS. I originally said it was acceptable, but I've changed my mind after thinking about it more. Someone will ALWAYS be the lowest player and if the result of being the lowest is getting kicked off the team, your teammates are going to be rooting against you as much or more as they will be rooting for you. You've already seen this.

If he revealed this policy of his after you joined the team, I think it's fine to drop out again. It's not like "oh by the way, the lowest guy buys the team a round of drinks". It's something that very definitely affects the team chemistry and performance and should have been mentioned up front, "I'd like you to join our team, but I should warn you, we're very competitive and have the rule that..."

Take that for what it is, remember, I play in leagues to shoot pool and have fun... sometimes in the other order.

 

[dr9ball]

When league teams are good, they are very good, when they're bad they are horrid.

Leagues are not for everyone. If they aren't for you, don't play on them, stick to tourneys and matching up.

 

[Bona]

The same minute my team captain instituted that policy would be my last minute on his team. From your description, I doubt I would play in that league at all, let alone on that team.

It is a bit difficult here to find and get on a team so that might mean I wasn't playing for a while until I found a new spot, but that would still be my position.

I play in APA now, on a team here in Omaha, composed of people I really like and am also looking for a BCA or VNEA team so I can add another pool night. Maybe while you are looking for a better situation you could look for two, if you have the time to play that often.

 

[RRfireblade]

How so completely ridiculous.

First of all you paid your dues I don't believe he actually has the right. He doesn't own the team nor does he own any part of the APA. I would tell him if he is planning on kicking people off the team he better also be prepared to pay back all of the dues and fees paid up till date.

Second, I would tell him to find the biggest fattest pool cue he can and sit on it and spin.

 

[CreeDo]

The reason some teams have a lot of fun while others don't is usually just down to personal chemistry. Teams that start out as a collection of good friends will have more fun... and often perform better because they can encourage (and occasionally criticize) each other, and it's more effective coming from a friend.

Once you have that harmony, breaking it up should be a last resort.

Your captain has been watching too much survivor and apprentice and is generally a tool.

 

[justadub]

Complete bovine excrement.

It is supposed to be fun. I repeat, it is supposed to be fun.

I take league and captaining my team as serious as most anyone I know, but at the end of the day, we all need to enjoy ourselves, and everyone needs to be able to play. Of course, when we get into playoff scenarios, I will play the strongest combination possible, but that's a given, and explained to everyone beforehand.

It's knuckleheads like the one our OP has to deal with that give league such a bad rep.

Sheesh.