"Banter" can be good for your team, or bad for it. Knowing the difference is more important than it first looks.

We shrug off team badinage as a bit of fun. Someone is the butt of a joke when they do something silly. We laugh and have fun. Most of the time, this is harmless. The world keeps turning and we all forget about it. It builds up a culture of fun and bonding with the others in our team. Every court needs a jester.

However, some guys take words to heart. This is not because they have "no ticker". This is not because they are over-sensitive. It's because the the banter makes them feel isolated rather than bonded. Of course, they say nothing and laugh along because it's "just fun". Then they go out to bat full of nerves knowing that a poor shot will give the team banterologist a chance to rib them about being a slogger. The result is worse team performance.

Naturally, there is a balance to be had on both sides. The player who feels bad about banter needs to better manage external influences. The "Archbishop of Banterbury" needs to understand that taking the mickey can influence other's performance negatively. The captain (and coach) has to keep an eye on it all from afar.

So next time there is banter bouncing around, think how it might go down. If it's bad medicine, maybe it's time to rethink a little.