Good teammates can turn a good sports experience into a great sports experience. Every player has the ability to provide the support necessary to be a great teammate. Great Teammates:
1. Give relentless effort: You cannot control many things that will happen during your season, but you can control how hard you play. The only way to get better is to give your maximum effort. This not only makes you better, but pushes your teammates to get better as well.
2. Are unselfish: Put the team first. Your job is to do what it takes to help the team be successful. This isn’t always easy, but great teammates and a way to put the success of the team above their own success.
3. Are honest: All great teams and relationships are built on honesty. Your coach and teammates need to know that they can trust you during the ups and downs of a season.
4. Are humble: You may be the star of your team or you may be a role player, either way, remember that the team comes first. Put your individual accomplishments aside and give praise to your teammates. Teams succeed when no one cares who gets the credit.
5. Hold themselves and their teammates accountable: You should have high standards for yourself and your teammates. If a teammate is not fulfilling their duty to the team, engage them in a supportive conversation to help get them back on track. You might need to help them buy into a particular strategy, help them accept their role on the team, or simply hear them out. Be the player that reaches out to your teammates to help the team as a whole.
