Defeating the team before the game starts

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h8weakness

Bucket Dad
Jan 9, 2019
35
8
Mishawaka, IN
Hey guys and gals,

I'm a strong believer in destroying the psyche of the other team before the game starts. I know it sounds harsh, but I'm sure you've been on the receiving end of it or seen teams who were.

Just as an example, a few years back, we showed up to a tournament an hour prior to the game @ 8am. The team we were facing were already all on the field warning up, were all wearing identical uniforms, were working at 4 or more drill stations and were in perfect cadence yelling so loudly that you had to take notice... they looked squared away.

Our girls were still trying to wake up with a few not even there yet.

Our girls looked defeated as they warmed up and ultimately played defeated.

What are some things your team or DD does before the game starts (if any) that you believe would make their opponent assume they're about to get beat?

I enjoy the mental part of the game.... 😁 I personally feel that a team's positive attitude and posture pregame can be a deciding factor of who comes away with the win.

Thank you for your time!
Sincerely,
Ross
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
I've seen plenty of teams who won the warm up and lost the game.

I've seen coaches wear their kids out in a effort to psyche out the other team.

None of it matters until its game time.
 
Dec 15, 2018
809
93
CT
Fog machine and pyrotechnics, plus a bitchin' sound system (studies show "Welcome to the Jungle" is most intimidating). It gets expensive, especially on pool play days, but I believe results in at least a 3 run advantage.

Seriously though, our pre-game routine is designed to get us ready to play, not for show (and if we're doing it right, our girls aren't looking at what the other team is doing, other than observing infield (if there's time for one), or looking at pitchers. Executing a sharp infield can help, but honestly we've looked like crap during our infield practice and played fantastically and vice-versa, so...who knows.
 
Nov 4, 2015
320
43
We have 1 set of uniforms. Money parents pay goes to tournaments, not a lot of matching bags and fancy uniforms. While it is true that talent wins a lot of games, chemistry and solid play wins more. Have seen many good looking teams with a lot of talent lose to teams that were overall less talented, but seemed to always make the routine plays and have great chemistry. Put on a show and make a lot of noise, but after the coin toss, none of that matters.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
While I do believe that a person's attitude does have a bearing on things that happen, I also believe that each person has control over their attitude. If they are impacted by things other people say or do, it is only because they are allowing that to happen. I can understand how that type of logic would be successful at the younger ages, but as athletes gain more experience, if this type of stuff bothers them, they may want to consider staying away from competitive sports.

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.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
We have 1 set of uniforms. Money parents pay goes to tournaments, not a lot of matching bags and fancy uniforms. While it is true that talent wins a lot of games, chemistry and solid play wins more. Have seen many good looking teams with a lot of talent lose to teams that were overall less talented, but seemed to always make the routine plays and have great chemistry. Put on a show and make a lot of noise, but after the coin toss, none of that matters.

To be honest, the whole chemistry thing to me is a chicken or the egg scenario. I have seen plenty of teams who had great chemistry in Year A only to "lose it" the next year with the same players..what happened? Well players X, Y and Z had career years
in Year A and then regressed to the mean the next year and then all of a sudden the "chemistry" was gone....Sure all things equal, a team who gets along better will probably beat a team who doesn't get along 7 out of 10 times. However if a team has a stud pitcher, kids in the 3,4 and 5 spots who mash and solid defense up the middle they can hate each other and they will still beat the team full of Marie Curies but who has players who aren't as good. I think this is particularly true in baseball/softball.
 
Last edited:

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
If a team is defeated by another team doing drills, wearing the same uni, yelling nonsense or whatever...that team has weak players or they aren't prepared.
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,219
113
USA
All things being equal (which they never are) I believe this well-oiled, squared away and confident approach will have an impact on both teams. Some teams/players may be intimidated and some may rise up and kick butt. Some teams. and especially if they are only warming up in that fashion as an attempt to impress will simply not be up to the task. Frankly, I'd rather see a team warm up with precision and purpose while having fun, getting loose and starting the game with confidence (even if they are outmatched).
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
At 14s we played a national schedule. We faced a team from Texas that is well known. We showed up 1:15 before game time as we always did. We had a great pre-game workout like we always did. As we looked at the team from Texas we felt that they were over hyped. They showed up 45 minutes before game time and went through the motions. They got there after many of the P5 coaches there to see them. Then they proceeded to put a whipping on us like we never seen before. Later in that year we beat them but it had nothing to do with the pregame routine :)
 

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