We have all heard it...there is no "I" in team. A team is a group of individuals working together for a common goal. A team divides the work and doubles the success. A team is less "me" and more "we".
Is a team only comprised of those who get on the field or the court? Is a team the starting lineup or the ones that were in the game when the contest was won? Definitely NOT! A team is comprised of athletes working together at practice, preparing for games and supporting one another throughout the process.
My husband and I are both coaches. A message we always try to present to our players is that ALL of them comprise the team...not just the ones that get in the game. Often times players feel like they are not a part of the team if they don't get to play a lot...that couldn't be further from the truth.
If an individual comes to practice each day with a positive, hardworking, team player attitude, that builds the team. If the individual works hard to become a better player, to earn a spot on the field or court, that individual is pushing someone else to work hard and become better. This process is motivating and inspiring each individual on the team to be better...making a better team. On game day, the team is better prepared to compete because of the efforts of each individual at practice.
It is common to hear people ask, "Did you get to play?" Many times spectators, family and friends gauge success on if the athlete has a starting spot, how many points scored, yards passed or rushed, or how many minutes the athlete was in the game. Yes, that is a nice bonus, but being on the team is success in itself.
A lot of hard work goes into be a member of a team and each player has their role. Their role may be a starting athlete in the lineup or it may be the one that pushes that starter so hard in practice that it has made him or her better. The role may be the one that slaps everyone one the hand as they approach the bench and keeps the team momentum and enthusiasm up. Each teammate has a role and is an important part of the team's success.
A challenge to us all as athletes, coaches, parents, spectators, family and friends, is to recognize each team member for their contribution and always remember the team would not be the same without every person on it...together everyone achieves more!
"One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team." Kareem Abul-Jabbar
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