By Steve Horan
Teamwork is critical for athletic success. Yet a surprising number of athletes come to their team with no real sense of what it means to be team player.
Coaches and parents can teach teamwork if the athlete is willing to learn. A good first step is to explicitly coach the winning habits of great team players. Here are five to start with.
1. Commitment. Great team players commit to the team through good times and bad. They work hard and fulfill their responsibilities whether the team is winning or losing. They keep this commitment through the entire season - even if others begin dropping out.
2. Responsibility. Great team players are accountable to the team for their actions. They take personal responsibility for showing up on time, learning and executing their assignments, taking care of their health, and respecting their teammates and coaches.
3. Contribution. Great team players are always looking for ways to add value to the team. Some step out front to lead. Some become valuable role players. Some bring tremendous spirit. And others bring a great work ethic. All are needed, and all are valuable.
4. Collaboration. Great team players communicate and cooperate with coaches and teammates. They respond positively to coaching. They work with their teammates to master execution. They use their voice and example to promote team spirit and unity.
5. Flexibility. Great team players are willing to adapt their role to match the team goal. They recognize that teams go through different phases, and people need to adjust their roles as conditions change. Whatever the coach asks, they try to deliver.
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As coaches and parents, we can help our athletes by explicitly teaching, enforcing, advocating, modeling these winning habits. The payback will come in positive development and higher performance in athletics and beyond.