Team Morale

[Keithalw]

How can you keep up a teams morale and spirits when you are down by a good amount of sticks? I am lucky to not have that problem yet but I do see so many teams just like freaking give up once they start getting behind 40-50 pins and this is 5 men teams. Just thought I would ask how yall would just incase that ever does appen I can ligt a fire under some @$$

[dnhoffman]

Stay positive. You build effective teams by keeping everyone engaged so finding little things that keep each person interested mad staying positive themselves is essential. The minute you show frustration, apathy, or negativity is the moment everyone stops bowling and starts drinking..

[noeymc]

gotta get hyped and motivate them if it happens i just tell them look hit what your looking at and throw the best ball u can throw if your doing that we will come back and this is normally where i really start to focus to show them its possible spares win games lets be honest strikes are great! but as long as u pick up 90% of ur spares ur prop a 185-200 avg bowler =D

[vdubtx]

On my Tuesday league it is a high average league and anything can happen. We have been down 100+ mid game and come back to win multiple times. We regroup and pick each other up mentally, just staying positive. We all know the others can string strikes so we watch each other and give feedback if someone is struggling.

Our lead off bowler was struggling this past week and I noticed his ball speed was up higher than normal on his first ball. I mentioned this to him when his ball sailed on the lane barely hitting head pin, next 6 frames he struck.

[circlecity]

In my Monday league we are giving about 200+ pins of handi each game so it's scary seeing that -212 right off the bat. If were down a 100 or so at 5th frame I just mention it's time to get going or string some strikes together. OK, i'm not much of a cheerleader... I try to lead by example and show some life or just that I know were not out of it attitude.

[MICHAEL]

same here this last Thursday we gave 210 each game, (that's the team with Jason, Chad, Larry, Iceman, and wife), we are in first place by two games at this point! We won 3 out of four,,, only lost the last one because it doesn't take much to lose with the high handicap. One of our 220 average bowlers had a 172.... it happens!http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg546/imagine686868/Scan_zps77ede3d8.jpg (http://s1243.photobucket.com/user/imagine686868/media/Scan_zps77ede3d8.jpg.html)

We are still in first by 2 games because of what happened with teams behind us, but yes,,, (((TWO OUT OF THE 3 games WE BOWLED WITH THAT HUGE handicap, we won in the 9 and 10 frame, one was tied going into the 10, and we did what needed to be done there...lol it was a cliff hanger...

That's the league I had the 725 on two weeks ago! Jason and Chad had 700 plus series Thursday,,, almost 800s,,,, Jason had another 300!! What a team!! We won first last year, but this year some of the other teams have brought in some top guns, and are going after us!! WE SHALL SEE...... YES HUGE handicap many times takes us to the finale 2 frames before we over take it!

As to how we do it, this is going to sound pretty simple, we have gotten use to knowing that its not usually over till the 9 or 10 frame in our case! We had a team that is behind us that brought in a very good bowler this year, and we are playing them next week.

I guess their team captain was watching us bowl Thursday, due to the fact they bowled Blind! He was according to some on our team using psychological B.S. and clapping when ever the team above had a good frame, while not giving use the same respect!

You know I could care less, lol,,, I am looking FORWARD TO BOWLING THEM next Thursday!!

In the scores above Larry who has a 225 average had a BAD DAY,,, so did Joyce,,, but it happens.... (but not that often)! (:)

We NEVER come down on a bowler on our team that is having a bad night! More then anything else, we are there to have FUN, and enjoy the night, regardless of our outing!

And bowling with the great bunch on this team is always a COOL BLAST,,,,, ICEMAN... (:_)

[dnhoffman]

Wow that's frustrating...

[Aslan]

I think the hardest thing is when your team is losing...and it's OBVIOUS that it's because of one player...whether it's me or someone else on the team. It's hard to find the words to be supportive and positive when you have a person with a 150-170 average bowling a 112 or a 190-210 bowler bowling a 119. I mean, they KNOW they're off their game.

And I've been guilty of that. Early in the year in the Thursday league...trying to figure out synthetics...I was bowling 319-383 series. We have a solid team...but they need me to be at LEAST the 3rd best bowler (of 4)...at LEAST throw a 425+ series. And now...despite turning things around in that league...I threw a 411 series in my Friday league last week. Friday is a sanctioned league...I'm relied upon to be one of the top 3 bowlers (of 5)...I can't just **** the bed like that.

[MICHAEL]

Hang in there Aslan,,,, lol,,,, I just say to myself,,, hey,, its not life or death!! Its suppose to be fun, and if we do well, so be it,,, if not, we still have a great time cutting up and kidding one another!! You will get where you want to be, just keep at it! I don't know why, but it has come pretty easy for me this two years of sanctioned bowling... but I don have my bad days,,, just like all of us!!! (:)

[Keithalw]

Its nice to know how all of you handle the situation. So far this problem has not occured but wanted to know how to handle it if it rises up. of course I do not want to loose but it would be irritating to loose just cause someone gave up.

We have done good so far on our mens league. Worse week was two weeks ago when we lost three but we gave up 130 something and everyone on that team decided to bowl there average and then some lol...

There is one guy on our team who will say they win or loose he is just there to have fun. Of course its more fun winning but even loosing hes just there to have fun.

[MICHAEL]

Its nice to know how all of you handle the situation. So far this problem has not occured but wanted to know how to handle it if it rises up. of course I do not want to loose but it would be irritating to loose just cause someone gave up.

We have done good so far on our mens league. Worse week was two weeks ago when we lost three but we gave up 130 something and everyone on that team decided to bowl there average and then some lol...

There is one guy on our team who will say they win or loose he is just there to have fun. Of course its more fun winning but even loosing hes just there to have fun.

Hey,,,, its always MORE fun to win!! lol..... but when a player is having a bad day, cheer him UP!! Let him/her know its not the end of bowling as he/she knows it!! There is always tomorrow!! If a person gives up, then that's a horse of a different color!! That's the kind of person I don't like to bowl with, or even be around! I always give it my VERY BEST, even on days when nothings seems to work! Its who I am! Just don't take it that seriously, when your having a bad day/night, and help ease the pain for those that are trying, but it just isn't working... that's my philosophy!

[dnhoffman]

You're paying to be there, why have a bad time? There was no bowling draft, you chose to be there so you might as well have a good time.

[Keithalw]

True true dnhoffman.

And so far ICeman noone on our team gives up. We have had a couple bad nights indvidually and the rest team cheers them on and picks up their game a little more. I think everyone on our team has that mentality of were going to win or damn well give them a hard time winning lol

[MICHAEL]

True true dnhoffman.

And so far ICeman noone on our team gives up. We have had a couple bad nights indvidually and the rest team cheers them on and picks up their game a little more. I think everyone on our team has that mentality of were going to win or damn well give them a hard time winning lol

Well said ... I agree 100 percent,,, that sounds like our Thursday night team to a tee!!! (::D

[circlecity]

One thing I don't like is the negative talk that starts when things are going well. Say, 10's or 7's are not falling for people. "Oh this house or pair are known for that." I just try to smile and slowly walk away somewhere else.

[circlecity]

I meant not going well. system isn't letting me edit for some reason right now. sorry

[Keithalw]

We have people like that in our house. One guy actually on Thursday will leave a nine pin or 7 and say welcome to camellia lanes house of blah blah blah. I just want to be like no welcome to the house of you just messed up erg

[J Anderson]

We have people like that in our house. One guy actually on Thursday will leave a nine pin or 7 and say welcome to camellia lanes house of blah blah blah. I just want to be like no welcome to the house of you just messed up erg

And I bet the same guy struts off the lane after a strike, whether it's a solid all ten in the pit or something he was lucky not to leave a huge split on, like he's Pete Weber.

[mjoyce]

True true dnhoffman.

And so far ICeman noone on our team gives up. We have had a couple bad nights indvidually and the rest team cheers them on and picks up their game a little more. I think everyone on our team has that mentality of were going to win or damn well give them a hard time winning lol

This is the best way to keep team morale going in a positive direction. People have bad nights. I was one of those people in my Friday league. But my GF had a solid series for her and we ended up winning 2 out of 3 games and lost total pins by 1 pin...one damn pin. Oh well though I'm there to have fun. If I have fun and bowl well that's just a better night.

And as long as I bowl better the next week than I did this week I'll be happy.

[MICHAEL]

On my Sunday 6pm league, we lost all 4 games, but had a GREAT TIME doing it!! I think it has a lot to do with WHO YOU ARE bowling! There are some teams I hate losing 2!!! But most, it's not a big deal at all, and I always have a GREAT TIME Win, or lose!

Funny,,, on my Thursday, Monday league, we are in first place, but on the Sunday league, some where around south of in the middle!! LOL

I think when you let your team get tense over a poor performance, it just takes the fun out of it! NUMBER ONE IN MY BOOK, is HAVE A GREAT TIME, win or lose!

Because in the grand scheme of things, bowling is a Blast, and don't take it to damn serious, unless your a PRO, and your lively hood depends on it! ;)

Enjoy the food, beer, and good company, and have a GREAT TIME, I always do,,,,,,,,, and if you see someone that's struggling, on EITHER TEAM,,, CHEER them up, and take that frown off their face!!! foot note: ( unless that person is a butt)! Just leave that type alone in their miserable world that they have created for themselves... :p

[Mudpuppy]

Down 40-50 pins on a 5 man league? Sounds good to me. That is an easy obstacle to overcome. Never out of the game down that less of pins. We see it as a good challenge and pushes us to do our best. I bowled on a lot of leagues and I quit all the leagues where it was super serious and I didn't have fun. Now it is fun every week whether I bowl a 105 or a 295. Doesn't matter. Yes we want to win but it's not the end of the world if we don't. And the guys on our team - all of them are REALLY REALLY great about positive encouraging comments when someone is off their game, etc. That is the key. Negativity is like a black hole and will swallow you up.

[e-tank]

I try to get myself on track and lead by example. Im always anchor so im used to putting the team on my shoulders

[Aslan]

I usually just get wasted and hit on chicks. My team gets an added advantage in morale by watching women reject me. It makes them feel better about themselves. And I'm willing to take one for the team like that...because I'm a stand-up guy.

[Mudpuppy]

I usually just get wasted and hit on chicks. My team gets an added advantage in morale by watching women reject me. It makes them feel better about themselves. And I'm willing to take one for the team like that...because I'm a stand-up guy.

Genius, lol

[MICHAEL]

I usually just get wasted and hit on chicks. My team gets an added advantage in morale by watching women reject me. It makes them feel better about themselves. And I'm willing to take one for the team like that...because I'm a stand-up guy.

You know Aslan,,, You are one hell of a guy! Probably the only reason women reject you is because they are not interested at all. But the fact that you
don't give up, is what we admire most about you, that and the fact that you never learn from you experience...lol

Its good that you are a stand up guy!!! ESP, after getting wasted!! No place for a bowler to be, ,, ,, in the gutter!! (:)

If you live here in Kansas City MO. I would .....well... probably move back to CA,,, 95350!!!

[Aslan]

If you live here in Kansas City MO. I would .....well... probably move back to CA,,, 95350!!!

If I lived in Missouri...it would be either because Miss Missouri convinced me to move in with her OR because I was in the witness protection program.

And you're always welcome back in California Iceman....this is a state that definitely caters to the....uhhhh...."unique individuals" with a "flare for the dramatic".

[Aslan]

Last night was a good example of good and bad team morale.

On our team, good morale...I was struggling in game 1, the other players also had 1 out of 3 games they struggled in...but the team was always able to pick up certain member's games to make up for whatever player was off that game.

On the OTHER TEAM...and I almost felt bad for the other 3 players...they had a player that was drunk and acting a fool...because he wasn't having a good game by his standards. So after the first 2 games...down 2-0...but with 2 points within their grasp...that guy on the other team just starting acting foolish. Throwing the ball from the start of the approach, throwing a house ball, throwing the ball as hard as he could, throwing the ball between his legs. At first his team found it amusing...they were all having sub-par nights by their standards....but after realizing that guy was costing them 1-2 points...causing them to get bumped from 2nd place to who knows where...you could tell they didn't find his antics as amusing as the 3rd game went on.

But, it was a team of 4 young guys...mostly high rev, thumbless type bowlers...who had the attitude that if they couldn't strike...then they'd just throw a tantrum and whip the ball down the lane. One of their players was a stroker, with one of the nicest swings I've seen...but he struggled with spare shooting. And their "thumbless wonders"...if they didn't strike and left a 7-pin or 10-pin...they almost just stopped trying to spare.

I felt embarassed FOR them...thats how stupidly they were behaving. It was like cosmic bowling out there. And the sad thing is...if they weren't so drunk..they may have realized how close the score was...and that they had a REAL GOOD shot of salvaging 2 points out of that 3rd game.

[Mudpuppy]

Sounds like we need to start an Aslan reality show.

Cosmic bowling out there, lol