How to help a girl become a team leader

inde53546 said:

Lead by example be positive

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I think she does that, positive example.

Sounds like she is doing good stuff already...just encourage her to keep doing what she is doing. Lead by example and encourage her teammates sounds like she is already on the right track. You don't really try to be a leader watch a group of kids who have never met each other engage in some kind of activity and it won't take very long to see who the leaders are even if they aren't doing all the talking.

As far as her team designation does the "stronger" team have a strong catcher. Sometimes it's just luck of the draw seen #1 pitchers of TB team never start a HS varsity inning because the #1 pitcher (another ace TB pitcher) happened to go to the same HS.

If she was top 4 on her team but #2 catcher that could be your answer. Maybe let the coach know you will be looking for guesting opportunities for the weeks she is does not have a tournament with the tea.

You can't force it, but you can lead by example. Don't take plays off even in practice. Go hard in drills. Don't get down if you get out,etc.

One thing that is important is to try and make different groups of players feel welcome. Just hanging out with the new kid during a game break, or telling someone who
is having a bad day to relax.

As a catcher sensing the mood of a team. Sometimes 2 bad plays in a row can lead to 5. Teach her to take the initiative to go talk to the infield when she feels they need it. Tell them a joke or anything to loosen them up. Sometimes it might be a simple let's wake up during Sunday morning warm-ups.

Sparky Guy said:

If she's the #1 on the team she is not being pushed. Try to get her in a more competitive situation.

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Would love to get her in a more competitive situation. The head of the organization said she might be shuffling players between the two 14u teams after fall ball. My DD is desperately hoping she will be moved up. If not, I don't see any alternative other than to wait until next summer's tryouts.

I could keep on checking around to see if any other team in our area is looking for a 14u catcher mid-season, but that does not seem likely.

djcarter1966 said:

Maybe let the coach know you will be looking for guesting opportunities for the weeks she is does not have a tournament with the tea.

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Good idea, thanks.

canyonjoe said:

You can't force it, but you can lead by example. Don't take plays off even in practice. Go hard in drills. Don't get down if you get out,etc.

One thing that is important is to try and make different groups of players feel welcome. Just hanging out with the new kid during a game break, or telling someone who
is having a bad day to relax.

As a catcher sensing the mood of a team. Sometimes 2 bad plays in a row can lead to 5. Teach her to take the initiative to go talk to the infield when she feels they need it. Tell them a joke or anything to loosen them up. Sometimes it might be a simple let's wake up during Sunday morning warm-ups.

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Thanks, this is stuff I need to know. I absolutely don't want her to force it. I will ask her what she says when she goes out to the circle.

grcsftbll said:

If becoming a better player is her goal being on a team where she's way ahead of the rest isn't the way to do it. JMO.

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What option does she have this season?

CoreSoftball20 said:

Attitude plays a big part.

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She is always early to practice. When she isn't catching she is the first one on the field to warm-up between innings.

Bob516 said:

I certainly did not mean to imply she should act like a coach. I have never played a team sport, so I do not know about the dynamics of a team. I had assumed one player would step up and takes a peer leadership role. I hear her in the dugout when her team is batting cheering on her teammate at bat. In the last scrimmage the coaches gave the catching responsibilities in the second game of the day to two other players, and my DD was at SS, encouraging the pitcher, continuing to call the number of outs and to what base the next play should be. She is also the one of the kids who will always carry the equipment to the coaches car, even while she is dragging her catchers bag.

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Oh no, I didn't get that implication at all. I was just writing in general terms. Those who are intrinsically motivated and genuinely love the game will always do well at one level or another.

Rooster's Dad said:

Oh no, I didn't get that implication at all.

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Thanks for making that clear.