"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." --Michael Jordan
"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." --Helen Keller
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." --Henry Ford
Photo by Alyssa Ledesma on Unsplash
At some point in your life, you have heard of the word "teamwork". You have probably heard one of the quotes above to. But what is it about teamwork that soccer, and many other sports, rely so heavily on?
This is what I've always thought of when I think of the word "teamwork": T=Tenacity
E=Elasticity
A= Arithmetic
M= Magic
W=Work
O=Opportunity
R= Results
K=Knockout
Because of the combination of all of these words, a group of people become a team, and through that, can accomplish whatever goals they set out for. According to Phil Jackson, the legendary coach for the Chicago Bulls, the strength of the entire team lies in the hands of each member. At the same time, the ultimate strength of each member is the team itself. And best part? It can be applied to any team, any sport.
So, sit down with your team. Talk it out with them. Do you share the same tenacity, or determination to achieve a common goal? When it comes to elasticity, do your players have the ability to adept to any situation or change in the game. Do you have the same drive to put in the work? Does your team see the same opportunities to reach the ultimate result? If so, you have put together an amazing team. The magic of teamwork will grant them a successful climb to the top.
To summarize: A team without teamwork will never be successful in the end. This is why when you join a team, whether professional or recreational, a coach will spend a good chunk of time and effort on practices that enforces a teamwork standing between every individual on the team. Without teamwork, they will achieve nothing as a group.