The follwoing comes from Tony Alfonso at http://www.hoopsu.com/. Tony talks about the value of players rating themselves as teammates. It's a nice article but there are tons more like it at the website.“I've worked too hard and too long to let anything stand in the way of my goals. Iwill not let my teammates down and I will not let myself down.” Mia Hamm.
You work hard on your overall game. You spend hours shooting the basketball. You play countless pick-up games, tournaments, and leagues. You spend time improving your strength and speed. You do all of this to become a better basketball player.
Do you, however, spend time improving your team? Do you strive to be a great teammate? Do you inspire your teammates? Do you help them become better basketball players? Or, do you try to cut them down at any chance? Do you act out of jealousy and envy?
Obviously, you can see where I'm going with this and how I feel about teamwork. You may be the best player on your team or you may be the last player off the bench. Either way, if you desire to have a great team, you must first of all be a great teammate yourself.
If you want to be successful, it is up to you to be an inspiring teammate. The following is an 9 question mini-quiz you can use to rate yourself as a teammate. Think honestly about each question and answer honestly ... only you really know the true answers. Your goal should be to answer each question in such a way that puts teammates before yourself. If your responses are of a selfish nature, think about what you can do to become a better teammate...one that every other player will want to play with. Certainly we are not perfect ... we are not going to be the best of teammates all the time. However, if team success is your goal, you must learn to be a great and inspiring teammate!
Teammate Rating Quiz
1. Do you reach out to your teammates both on and off the court? You may notbe 'best friends' with all of your teammates, but do you sincerely care abouteach one and demonstrate that attitude to them?
2. Do you accept your teammates for who they are as a uniquely individualperson and basketball player, or do you tease, mock, and/or cut them downpersonally and as a basketball player?
3. Are you loyal to your teammates? A basketball team is really a family,especially during a long and competitive season. Do you stand up for yourteammates when other's are not being so kind?
4. Do you listen to your teammates thoughts, questions and problems or are youmore concerned with yourself?
5. Are you an encourager? Do you encourage your teammates through toughtimes, both on and off the court? Do you help them develop their strengthsand improve upon their weaknesses or would you rather that theirweaknesses prevail?
6. Are you kind to your teammates?
7. In the company of your teammates, both on and off the court, are you beingyourself or are you being what you think they want you to be?
8. When a teammate criticizes, whether constructively or destructively, do youaccept it and possibly discuss it...and even thank them for it? Or do you getdefensive with them, withdraw from them, and/or ignore them?
9. Can you accept and enjoy a teammate's success? Does a teammate that earnssuccess and all the accolades that go along with that success create a senseof jealousy or eny?
Final Thoughts: If you answer any of the above questions in such a way that you place yourself above your teammates, you may not be the best teammate you can be. If you truly desire success for yourself and as a team, it behooves you to be a great teammate. If you act selfishly and without regard to your team, they will not desire to play hard for you. If you give of yourself on the court and off, your teammates will enjoy playing with you and will be inspired to play hard for you.
