Ask GRL: How Do You Deal with Drama on Your Team?
The Question: "There's this weird tension between two girls on my team and it's making everything awkward. They don't talk to each other, so the rest of us feel like we have to pick sides or just pretend nothing's happening. It's affecting our games and I hate it. How do you handle team drama without making things worse?"
Our Take:
First off, props for caring about your team dynamic – that's real leadership energy, even if you don't have a captain's patch.
Here's the thing about team drama: it's like a small fire that everyone's trying to ignore, hoping it'll just burn out. Spoiler alert – it usually doesn't. It just spreads until everyone's walking on eggshells and your team chemistry goes from smooth to chunky peanut butter real quick.
What NOT to Do:
Play messenger between them ("She said..." – just don't)
Take sides publicly (even if privately you think one person is more wrong)
Pretend everything's fine during games (tension shows up in your passing, trust us)
What TO Do:
Address it as a team issue, not individual beef. This isn't about solving their personal drama – it's about protecting your team's energy. Try something like: "Hey, I've noticed some tension lately and it's affecting how we play together. Can we figure out how to keep team stuff separate from personal stuff?"
Create neutral ground. Suggest team bonding that doesn't require them to be best friends – just teammates who can coexist. Movie night, group study session, or even just structured practice drills where they have to work together professionally.
Talk to your coach if it's really affecting performance. This isn't snitching – it's leadership. Frame it as concern for team chemistry, not individual blame.
The Real Truth: You can't fix their friendship, but you can influence your team culture. Sometimes the best thing you can do is model the energy you want to see – stay positive, include everyone, and refuse to let their drama become your drama.
Your Turn: Drop your team drama survival strategies in the comments below. What's worked for you when teammates aren't vibing? Let's help each other out.
