Re: Dealing with disgruntled team members...

oilbaronsball <*no_reply_at_yahoogroups.com*> · Wed, 29 Sep 2004 23:10:43 -0000

--- In quizbowl_at_yahoogroups.com, g_boss98 <no_reply_at_y...> wrote:
> I'm trying to start a team at Youngstown State, and not three weeks 
> into existence I have people grumbling about how I'm dividing the 
> teams. I'm under the impression that nearly every one of the 
schools 
> I've read about on here has an A team, a B team, etc. based on 
> results at practice--that the best four play on one team. One 
person 
> in this new group wants me to spread the wealth, as it were, and 
> create two balanced teams. Do any of you do this, and if so, how do 
> you determine "balance"? Or should I just tell her to go to hell 
and 
> if she doesn't like how I make teams, she doesn't have to be there? 
> Or is there a happy medium that can be struck?

My impression is since you have just started the team at YSU, you 
have yet to organize to the point where you hold elections, and your 
group has not elected you president.  As such, you have little 
executive power in this situation.  It is best to compromise in this 
situation.  Unlike in high school where a coach, usually a teacher at 
the school, is clearly in an authoritarian role, in college things 
are more democratic, and there are fewer incentives to staying on the 
boat.  If you yell at this woman, you will just drive her away, and 
that is not good both for retaining membership and improving your 
reputation should you have designs on the leadership once the formal 
leadership structure is established.

The best thing to do is to take a vote and decide method of team 
composition from there.  Basically, ask everyone if they want to play 
on balanced teams or differentiate into A and B teams based on 
ability.  Remember, even if you do balanced teams, they will still be 
labeled A and B, and often at the college level people will want to 
and have the opportunity to play with certain people on their team 
more than others, considering quizbowl is a vaguely social activity.  
Also make sure everyone things your method of differentiating people 
by ability is fair.  If the majority wish to play on balanced teams 
for this tournament, suggest your group try differentiating by 
ability for the next tournament.  You have little to gain by being 
authoritarian or unfriendly at this point, so do the neighborly thing 
and be conciliatory and democratic.

Dan