Got a girl on my team who asked me this week where she's going to play in the field and bat in the lineup this season. Her father had told me that she'd lost sleep over it. This is a hard-working girl who is a team player, and I'm proud that she was assertive enough to ask me. This is not a case of a selfish player who will complain if she doesn't get what she wants. However, she might be down about it, as she's very hard on herself.
Compounding this is the fact that our team is stronger than a year ago, when she played SS and batted leadoff. Also played a little catcher and wants to do more of that because our top catcher aged up. But this season, the team is better, especially in the areas where she excells. So she might play 2B or CF, and bat maybe 7th or 8th in the order. Thing is, she's our 2nd-best overall defensive player in terms of versatility. She can play anywhere. In fact, that might be her role - the utility player. But she might not be #1 at any the positions she most wants.
Questions - How important are roles in the first place? Some players seem very motivated when they have a specific role or position on the team that they take pride in, whether it's their position in the field, their spot in the order, something that they do really well (ie, run bases). I've always believed roles are huge. I think it's very hard for a player to thrive when she hits last and plays the position she least wants.
How do you manage that on a team? How do you sell a role that might not be the one the player wants?
Compounding this is the fact that our team is stronger than a year ago, when she played SS and batted leadoff. Also played a little catcher and wants to do more of that because our top catcher aged up. But this season, the team is better, especially in the areas where she excells. So she might play 2B or CF, and bat maybe 7th or 8th in the order. Thing is, she's our 2nd-best overall defensive player in terms of versatility. She can play anywhere. In fact, that might be her role - the utility player. But she might not be #1 at any the positions she most wants.
Questions - How important are roles in the first place? Some players seem very motivated when they have a specific role or position on the team that they take pride in, whether it's their position in the field, their spot in the order, something that they do really well (ie, run bases). I've always believed roles are huge. I think it's very hard for a player to thrive when she hits last and plays the position she least wants.
How do you manage that on a team? How do you sell a role that might not be the one the player wants?