A few years ago while running an over-35 team in Bethesda, Maryland, one of my teammates recommended that his mailman try out for us. “He’s a nice guy,” he assured me. And indeed he was, until we started to play. Although there was nothing wrong with his soccer skills, he wouldn’t shut up. For a new player, he was awfully quick to start ordering everyone around and telling us what we were doing wrong.

Not ready to subscribe? Sign up here for our free newsletter.

Already have an account? Sign in here.