- Image by SFU Public Affairs and Media Relations via Flickr
It is one of the quintessential American pastimes, getting together with a group and competing with another group in some form of athletic game. Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball and the list goes on and on. All of these sports have one major component that is the key to success of every team. You may think I am going to say, being a good team player. It’s been said a thousand times and you probably have heard it from your coach. It’s more than just being a good team player.
The success on the team depends on your skills. Winning a game is not done by a group of good team players it is done by a group capable of defining how a group of individuals works well together. Just doing what your told will not get you any farther than trying to showboat and do it all yourself. The most important skill is learning to see the game from the inside and the outside simultaneously. Knowing where it is most important for your skills to be at any given time. This takes not only an awareness of teamwork but an evolved awareness of your self.
Winning teams are created not only by good teammates or start players. Winning teams are created by groups of individuals that excel at awareness. Shear physical ability is of little importance in team sports without a developed sense of awareness. This is not just figuring out where to be, but how to be. Some are skilled at attitude some with other skills. What matters is awareness. and then in the instance, without hesitation, act. The team is often not the place for those with doubt, for those that don’t trust. The team is the place for someone, ready and willing to expand their awareness beyond what is asked of you in a normal day. The big plays are the ones they never saw coming.
