Team Continuity: Be A Team Player!

What was the last great team you were part of? Maybe it's been a while, maybe you’re on one now and maybe you never have. The team idea has been severely diluted in the last decade or so, some people older than me may say it’s been going on longer than that. I’m pointing to the constant promotion of self in the media, through sponsorship, social media, video games, sports apparel, the list could grow much longer.

I enjoy watching college and amateur athletes,  you tend to see more of the team concept being practiced in this area. I visited Notre Dame over the summer and if you can't get a sense of team when you walk into the game day locker room of Notre Dame Stadium you should probably stop reading this right now.

At the High School level this team concept should come before any one player, it’s how team win games. now maybe once in a blue moon a team is blessed with such a talent that his or her abilities drive the team's success but it’s rare and the sports where this is applicable are few. In baseball you have to bat 9 guys and one guy can’t play every position on the field. In football there are even more 11 guys on the field all with important roles for contributing to success.

I was taken back a little when I attended my son’s football practice yesterday afternoon. I sat up on the bleachers and watched as 25 committed guys stood in the heat, during their last days of summer vacation with helmets strapped on listening to their coach strategize for this weeks opponent. Of to the side was one player, with his helmet off, sunglasses on and chatting it up with an ex player from last year.

My first thought was, “where the hell did he get the sunglasses?”,”did he have a special pocket in his practice jersey?”. My second thought was how was the coach letting this happen doesn’t he realize that this type of behavior is poison to a team at this level?

This was a player who had a good amount of success last year, I guess he felt he had the right to take this day lightly. I wondered if any of the new unproven players would be given the same treatment, probably not.

If you’re a coach please do not allow individuals to become the focus of your team. If you’re a teammate that sees this happening, don’t let it fly. But more importantly, if you are that person with the natural abilities to excel in what you do, take responsibility for your talent and make your team as strong as it can be.