What does teamwork mean to you?

If you google the word "teamwork" you’ll find a definition of:

“When a group of people works together cohesively, towards a common goal, creating a positive working atmosphere, and supporting each other to combine individual strengths to enhance team performance.”

I personally like this definition because it avoids using the stereotypical word "team" to describe the people it’s talking about, but instead refers to the team as something “a group of people” are a part of. My reasoning behind this is simple. When it comes to many things, especially athletics, teamwork clearly goes beyond the athletes on the team or even the starters. “A group of people” reminds us that in order for a team to be successful, teamwork must be obtained through everyone who plays a role in the running of the team. This list includes coaches, managers, players, parents, fans and everyone in between.This isn’t to say that the athletes are not the main focus of the game, or that they shouldn’t be the ones putting the most effort into meshing together and using teamwork to strive toward their goal.

What it means is that there are often aspects of teamwork that we overlook.

I have spent a lot of time around sports. I spent years playing basketball, volleyball, and softball. I’ve been an athletic trainer for my school, and spent hours watching two-a-days as well as Friday nights under the lights of a football field with players and coaches. I’ve been a baseball fan from the time my brother started playing and still spend much of my free time watching him. As if we aren’t around sports enough, free time in my household is spent watching whatever type of games we can find.
Through all of this, my main focus has always been softball. I will be the first to tell you that I have been in almost every position there is to be on a team. I have been one of the worst on the team, and I’ve been one of the best. I’ve been out for a season on injury, and I’ve been a starter because of my health and strength. I’ve helped coach my own summer league team and given lessons upon lessons. I’ve sat in the stands to scout as well as in the dugout to handle stats and call pitches. I’ve seen the game from every angle. My perception of teamwork is not bias. My beliefs on teamwork are based solely on what I’ve watched work.

Understanding what teamwork is on the field isn’t necessarily a hard concept, especially for those who love the game. In softball, teamwork is what makes single after single turn into run after run. Teamwork is what makes the 6-4-3 play possible and what allows baseball pitchers to communicate with second base about pickoffs. In football, it’s the way each person on the team goes hard EVERY SINGLE TIME. It’s how the line pushes themselves to the limit to protect the quarterback, while the ones running won’t stop because they want every inch they can gain for their team. In basketball, it’s the way the starting point guard understands his teams' best bet is for him to pass the ball, or how the senior understands that sometimes a little time on the bench isn’t the worst because the freshman she's sharing with is shooting above .500.

But what is teamwork behind the scenes?

Teamwork behind the scenes is a combination of actions that each and every person involved works on to better the team as a whole. It’s the things done that are often overlooked or under appreciated.

Understanding teamwork to the fullest means grasping concepts such as these below.

It’s players understanding that if they don’t hustle and a scout sees it, they may leave – throwing away their whole teams opportunity to be scouted by that school. Teams grasping the aspect that the way they carry themselves on and off the field leads to the assumptions a college coach will make about the entire team.

The way fans and parents communicate with coaches and umpires sets the pace for the way the team meshes. The atmosphere set up by the coaches, fans and umpires has a huge effect on the athletes and how they play.

Understanding that a loss in NEVER because of one bad pitch, or one bad pass, or one missed free throw, or one play called. A loss is a loss because of numerous actions leading up to the end of a game. A loss is always a loss for the team, and never a loss on one player. Your team is more important than your stats and blaming one player for a loss is the exact opposite of what being on a team is all about. In the same aspect, no win is one athlete's win. A win is a win for the team – always.

When it comes to holding your teammates accountable and always being there to help them out, constructive criticism is a huge part of teamwork. Every person on a team knows the game. They wouldn’t be there if not. Sometimes we, as athletes, get into a habit and simply can’t figure out what is wrong. Most of the time asking a teammate to take a look at form leads to them noticing a small fix that we, ourselves, have overlooked. The ability of a team to work together to improve each others flaws leads to teams that win championships. As athletes this concept can be hard to grasp sometimes because we’re competitive and full of pride, but too much pride kills. It’s important to remember that as teammates, athletes are there to compete alongside each other – not against one another.

The four-hole batter giving his teammate a pep talk when he is pulled in order to give that kid an opportunity is a sign of maturity and selflessness. Instead of rolling his eyes and complaining, he enables his teammate to take his at-bat with confidence that his team is behind him one hundred percent. The way players react when their peers are given chances in different positions matters in the long run of team chemistry and accomplishments

Parents must know that while they will always be bias, their child isn’t the only one on the team who needs a little extra support and that all athletes have off games. Putting feelings aside and cheering for the whole team – not just one child, makes the entire atmosphere of the team more relaxed, enabling each team member to play to his or her best ability without worrying what the stands are whispering about. The way the parents and fans support ALL of the kids on the team makes a difference.

Starter or reserve, you are a part of the team equally with every other person there – no matter what your exact role.
The starting catcher would be exhausted and pitchers wouldn’t be ready without the bullpen catcher.
The hurting point guard can’t play without the treatment of the trainer.
The quarterback is nothing without the protection of his O-Line.
The game is not the same without the fans.
The teams are not prepared without the countless hours coaches put into them.
Every person there plays an important role in the outcome of the game.

It’s also important to understand that while relating teamwork to sports is easy and understandable, teamwork is something that athletes will carry their workforce and their futures. Engaging in social interactions means being a part of relationships that are a form of a team. Your family, co-workers, the congregation of your church, the extracurriculars you’re involved in, and numerous other aspects of life are all molded around the idea of a group of people making decisions not individually, but based on the well-being of the group as a whole. While selfish teams do sometimes win, it’s the unselfish teams that continually come out on top. Working together as a team and supporting each other like a family leads to lifelong friendships, lessons learned, picking up on characteristics that will aid in future endeavors, and often more amount of wins than losses in the record book.

When it comes down to putting the importance of teamwork into words, I could write for hours and never beat the words of Bo Schembechler. In 1983, the head coach of Michigan football addressed his team with these words:

“No man is more important than the team, no coach is more important than the team. The team, the team, the team! If we think that way- all of us- everything you do, take into consideration what effect does it have on my team? Think what a great thing it is to be a part of something that is the team! ……. We’re gonna believe in each other, we’re not gonna criticize each other. We’re not gonna talk about each other. And when we play as a team, when the old season is over, you and I know, it’s gonna be Michigan again. Michigan.”

If we can all adopt the mentality of this quote and the aspects we’re taught through athletics into our everyday lives and interactions with others, we’re bound to come out on top. Take the words of Bo Schembechler and replace “The team” with your team. Replace Michigan with your own family or group of coworkers because every team you're a part of always deserves your best.