Sure defense and offense are important, but I think once we have those things under control TEAM UNITY is the most important thing. Today my basketball coach called us (the varsity) in for a meeting after school to talk about team unity. I understood why he called the meeting. We all have those groups that we hang out in and warm up with during practice or before games, and that's fine, but we also need to have some sort of positive relationship with the rest of our team. You don't have to be best friends, but just say hi to them when you pass in the hall or in the grocery store. Make each team member feel welcome (not that our team doesn't do that).
"Unity is strength... when there is teamwork, and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved."- Mattie J.T. Stepanek. My team has great teamwork, but I do feel like we could collaborate just a bit more with each other.
Another quote I like says: "Where there is unity, there is always victory."- Pubilius Syrus. This quote just struck me. You can have all of the talent in the world, but if you don't act as a team, you won't play as a team. If you don't play as a team, you won't win games. There can be a team that has absolutely no talent and a team that has all of the talent in the world. If the no talent team plays as a team and the talented team doesn't, the talented team will not win. In basketball all 5 people on the court, and everyone on the bench matters. When one messes up, let them know it's OK! This applies to other sports as well. Every single person, playing or not matters on your teams. When you have unity you are almost unstoppable. Just think if you had amazing talent AND unity. You're team would be unstoppable.
Although being able to play defense and offense is important, team unity is probably the most important thing in sports. Be the one to pick others up and set an example so others start talking more and lifting each other up with you! Pretty soon, you will have a team that can not be stopped because you have such great unity and aren't afraid to communicate with one another. :)
Love,
MaShayla :)
MaShayla :)
