In Others’ Words: Playing as a Team

 

I spend a lot of hours watching volleyball players on the court — most often through my camera lens. It’s a long, heavy lens that I invested in just for shooting indoor sports.

But I digress.

Funny thing about photographing a volleyball team: I focus on the individual players more than I do the team. Where is the setter setting the ball? Who is going to hit it? The right side? The outside? Who on the back row is going to receive the serve and pass it up to the front row?

Want to know something I’ve learned while watching (and photographing) my daughter play volleyball for the past 8 years? Every girl on the team can be great athletes. Strong. Talented. But if they don’t come together emotionally and mentally as a team, they are going nowhere when it comes to competition. Why? Because they are playing like individuals, not as a unit. They may all be on the court together, but there’s no real connection beyond wearing the same style jerseys.

One sign of a strong team? A group that celebrates each other. Yes, a team hangs together when it’s battling an opponent, fighting to win. But playing as a team also means supporting each other and cheering on a teammate’s success, as well as celebrating the team’s victories — out loud and proud.

Here’s a tip: If you’re watching volleyball — or any other sport for that matter — don’t stop watching when a team scores. Focus in and wait for the celebrating. Then you know you’re watching more than good players — you’re watching a team.

In Your Words: What’s your experience with teams? Did a coach influence you in anyway — helping you see the difference between good players and a team?

In Others' Words: Playing as a Team http://bit.ly/2xQS6QG #quotes #sports
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'Finding good players is easy. Getting them to play as a team is another story.' Quote by Casey Stengel. http://bit.ly/2xQS6QG #team #athletes
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