Fast Five: TEAM

"The star of the TEAM is the TEAM."

Basketball, well-played, is the ultimate team sport. Players must play both sides of the ball, working together to create or prevent scoring. There is continuous action without strategy before every play. There is no "designated hitter" and players do not routinely play shifts as in hockey. 

Our tasks as leaders demands that we find solutions, promote team, and the solve the paradox of growing individuals while strengthening the team. 

1. The African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." The 2008 Celtics embraced the Swahili 'ubuntu' philosophy of connecting a community to each other. 
   
2. Alan Williams' "Teammates Matter" shares his experiences as a walk-on at Wake Forest. He provides numerous examples of how teammates supported him because they were teammates. When he had to try out again because of a coaching change, all his teammates came to support him. 
   
3. Kevin Sivils writes about TEAM in Teaching the TEAM Concept in Sports. One of his great ideas is awarding a "Teammate Award" to a player whom the TEAM votes to be the best teammate. He capitalizes TEAM for emphasis. 
   
4. I teach players, "Not everyone can become a great player, but there's no reason why everyone can't be a great teammate." 
5. There's no such animal as a great player who is a bad teammate. Many coaches, such as Dean Smith and Roy Williams have shared that they're not interested in recruiting players who put up big numbers but are bad teammates. 

Additional thoughts: 

• Is it about Ego or We Go?
• TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More
• Self-regulation: Are you the kind of person who values more what you achieve or what we achieve?
• Coaches...recognize players who don't get the media recognition. Everyone on the team needs to feel valuable, regardless of their role. 
• Is your program about building a program or a monument to yourself? If you excel, you will be recognized. 
• Don't get hurt patting yourself on the back. 
• "WE is a more important word than I". - Carmine Gallo...what I cannot do alone can often be easily done together.