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The Baseball Observer - Jan/ Feb 2016
• If the player is not able to assist the teammate, then the player can attempt
to find someone who can help and connect the teammate with that individual
such as another player or coach.
• Based on the assistance that is being provided to the teammate, seek to
maintain confidentiality with that teammate unless the player wants others to
know about the help.
8. If a player is not a starter, how does that player help the dynamics of the team by being a good teammate?
Without doubt, most players want to be starters and contribute in a direct way to the team and to winning. However, the reality is that, at any one point in time, a player may not be a regular but rather be cast into the role of a utility player.
A player who is not in the starting lineup still can be influential to the team as well as to the development of positive team cohesion by taking the following kinds of actions:
• The player can make a commitment to do all that they can to be the best that
they can be as a team member, even though they are not in the lineup often.
• They can seek out the coach and find ways to get better as a player, even
though they are not playing.
• The player can remind the coach that have come to the ballpark prepared to
play and that they are ready to assist the team whenever they are called on.
• When the player not in the game, they can make it a point to remain
engrossed in the game by watching how the game occurs--- inning by inning.
This would include doing such things as studying the opposing pitcher and
offering suggestions about how teammates can engage in quality at bats
against that pitcher. The player also can work at keeping themselves mentally
in the game by thinking about and visualizing how they would handle
particular game situations.
• Most importantly, the individual player can show great character by playing
the game the right way, including providing encouragement and support to
those players who are in the game.