Defeating the team before the game starts

FP26 said:

Note: I have never been a fan of "trash talking" either. When I was younger I had some friends and adversaries that would constantly try to trash talk me. I would typically just look at them and smile. Then I would do everything in my power to kick their arse during the event. I guess everyone uses their own method of motivation to make themselves feel better. If my opponent feels better by being arrogant or rude, let him. I will feel better when I get the W at the end of the game.

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I agree 100%.
I'm not referring to trash talking. I despise trash talking.
I am referring to younger girls. 12U and below. I assume that Good warm up drills, uniformity, good body posture and attitudes are just expected as you get into the A level teams.
I know this post seems a little crazy. ��

h8weakness said:

I agree 100%.
I'm not referring to trash talking. I despise trash talking. I am referring to younger girls. 12U and below.

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I saw my team becoming intimidated once from pregames.....I saw it happening and tried to correct it but it didn't work they were too focused on the other team. That was the last time. We had a team talk at the next practice about how WE handle US.

We talked as a team about how our pregame is for us. Not to show off, make noise. Our job is to focus on us. Now the by product of a very good crisp pregame warmups does serve a purpose. First get ourselves ready. However if in the process of that others take notice that we have our selves together, look well oiled....great...side benefit for us.

We don't watch other teams other than to get a peak at pitcher warmups if possible.

I've seen the LOUD cadence and stretching...trying to be loud and intimidating. Our team just shrugs it off or ignores. Generally those were the less confident teams anyway trying to create some false bravado.

There's a line between loose and goofing off and a line between focused and uptight/tense. Find the loose and focused line and you'll see winners most of the time.

I guess we'd all like to think a crisp warmup is indicative of a well coached team and has some impact on the other team. Perhaps it can, sometimes. However, I've seen my DDs' teams have terrible warmups and go play well and vice versa. I've heard our girls dismiss the other team for not looking good in warmups or all being tiny and then get bombed.

One year, the coaches and players stayed at some cabins in the mountains about 45 minutes from the tournament site. The girls got to swim, fish, hike, hot tub (a live fish in the hot tub clears girls out quickly) and we had a big campfire at night, ghost stories, the coaches had a few beers and a few more beers. We got up for Sunday bracket play, made an enormous breakfast and lost track of time a bit. We had to hustle to the fields and got there about fifteen minutes before the game started. There were no warm ups. Girls went out and crushed it. Won the tournament. I've wondered why we bother with warmups at all ever since. I think we'd all be better off by having more sleep.

You say this like wearing identical uniforms, working 4 or more drill stations is unusual.

As for the yelling in perfect cadence and that nonsense, DD's team in 12u would have made fun of you while they warmed up.

h8weakness said:

I agree 100%.
I'm not referring to trash talking. I despise trash talking.
I am referring to younger girls. 12U and below. I assume that Good warm up drills, uniformity, good body posture and attitudes are just expected as you get into the A level teams.
I know this post seems a little crazy. ��

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I am all for having a good quality warm up routine, and making sure the players take it seriously and focus throughout. I think some of that is simply getting into the right mindset for competition. I don't worry about the mindset of the other team. If they are intimidated or not intimidated, it really doesn't matter to me. As long as my team is ready and focused, I'm fine letting it play out on the field.

h8weakness said:

I am referring to younger girls. 12U and below. I assume that Good warm up drills, uniformity, good body posture and attitudes are just expected as you get into the A level teams.

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Yeah, that is a mighty big assumption you are making there.

Good posture and attitudes... from teenagers? Nope. Still herding cats.

I lean towards lulling the other team into a false sense of security. Show up no earlier than 40 minutes prior...most of the team, anyway.

Lots of yelling getting people into their cleats and out of the dugout, send all of the best players to the restroom, and leave the rest to field those grounders and fly balls like they've never seen them before. Make sure everyone within fifty yards thinks at least one player forgot her glove. Spend several minutes conjuring a lineup AFTER the umpires arrive and call for the coaches.

By the time that's all done, the other team is convinced that it will be a walkover, and that's when you eat them for lunch!

Lobster Birch said:

One year, the coaches and players stayed at some cabins in the mountains about 45 minutes from the tournament site. The girls got to swim, fish, hike, hot tub (a live fish in the hot tub clears girls out quickly) and we had a big campfire at night, ghost stories, the coaches had a few beers and a few more beers. We got up for Sunday bracket play, made an enormous breakfast and lost track of time a bit. We had to hustle to the fields and got there about fifteen minutes before the game started. There were no warm ups. Girls went out and crushed it. Won the tournament. I've wondered why we bother with warmups at all ever since. I think we'd all be better off by having more sleep.

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That sounds amazingly fun! Are you guys looking for a 12u Pitcher with a weak bat? LOL

Strike2 said:

I lean towards lulling the other team into a false sense of security. Show up no earlier than 40 minutes prior...most of the team, anyway.

Lots of yelling getting people into their cleats and out of the dugout, send all of the best players to the restroom, and leave the rest to field those grounders and fly balls like they've never seen them before. Make sure everyone within fifty yards thinks at least one player forgot her glove. Spend several minutes conjuring a lineup AFTER the umpires arrive and call for the coaches.

By the time that's all done, the other team is convinced that it will be a walkover, and that's when you eat them for lunch!

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Love it!
That sounds like most of the teams my daughter had played 8U-10U
Well, Minus all the eating them for lunch.

h8weakness said:

That sounds amazingly fun! Are you guys looking for a 12u Pitcher with a weak bat? LOL

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Let me know when you move to Seattle.