At some point, whether you’re a kid, teen, adult, or somewhere in between, you’ll find yourself part of a team. It might be a sports team, a band, a debate group, a Lego team, or even a leadership role at work—the possibilities are endless!

But no matter what, there’s always a moment when you get to experience being part of a team and learn what that’s really like.

So, what does it mean to be part of a team?

First off, it’s not about you, ever!

You may be a standout player, or whatever label you prefer for being the best, but remember, the team isn’t just about you. While the team truly appreciates everything you bring to the table, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s about the collective effort. The team is working on building an identity, with each piece playing an important role in making a meaningful impact for everyone involved.

Being part of a team means everyone has a role to play, but not all roles are the same. It’s a reality of sports and activities that some players will have a bigger impact than others, and that’s totally okay. What really matters is finding your role within the team and giving it your best for the sake of the team. That role might change as the season goes on, and that’s a natural part of being on a team.

Duke Basketball – Jay Bilas – Embrace Your Role

It’s ok to not be friends with everyone but you gotta have a great respect for everyone.

Being part of a team naturally means you’ll form closer connections with some people and develop stronger relationships with them – that’s totally normal. However, it’s important to remember that respect and kindness should be shown to everyone on the team. You might not always agree with everyone, but for the sake of the team’s success, it’s crucial to trust and be vulnerable with each other. It’s only natural for some players to bond more closely as they discover shared interests, but at the end of the day, it’s crucial that everyone is able to work together for the good of the team.

Quotes:

“If you don’t care about the guy next to you, one, you’re a terrible teammate. Two, you’re never gonna win.” – Travis Kelce

“I get asked a lot about my legacy. For me, it’s being a good teammate, having the respect of my teammates, having the respect of the coaches and players. That’s important to me.” –  Peyton Manning

You can’t have a Varsity dream with a middle school work ethic.

Embrace the work that’s about to come and let the chips fall where they may.  Being part of a team means you’ve got to put in the work, and a lot of it too.  That’s the price to being part of something special.

• Are you showing up on time to practice to be ready?
  • If you’re 15 minutes early, you’re late.
    • Be ready to go and if you’re waiting for practice to start, work on something.
• Are you putting in extra reps at home for your sport or activity or anything you love?
  • Everyone gets reps at practice but it’s the reps away that are the difference maker.
• Are you lifting and seeing progress over the course of weeks?
  • Lifting is monotonous and repetitive and it’s also where players separate themselves.
• Putting in extra work isn’t convenient.  If it was convenient, everyone would be doing it.  Don’t be like everyone.

Clemson Football – Embrace the Suck!

Checkout The Coach’s Praybook: A 40-Day Guide To Lifting Up Your Team in Prayer on Amazon and make sure you read the latest blog from Kevin Vanderwal here!