Teamwork Trumps Personal Gains

Most coaches will tell you that a victory matters more than any kind of personal achievement. Yet despite this widely held belief, a number of athletes continue to play with their own statistics and personal gains in mind. This can lead to poor decision making, unhappy teammates and, quite often, a loss.

With younger players, coaches don’t usually worry about wins or losses and they certainly don’t promote personal gains. Instead, at this level, they teach proper techniques, fun and teamwork.

Yet no matter the level, professional, amateur or somewhere in between, the best coaches understand the importance of collective gains over individual records. These beliefs can teach young kids about profound morals that may have longstanding impact. By sharing good examples of this philosophy on a sports team website, coaches can encourage their young athletes to think the same way.

Detroit Lions safety plays for the team

Glover Quin, free safety for the Detroit Lions, is tied for the league lead with six interceptions, according to Fox Sports. It’s a remarkable achievement that affirms his prowess on the football field. However, when speaking to reporters, Quin is quick to note that the game is more about the journey than the destination. And teamwork, he said, fuels it all.

“Glover, he’s that guy that comes in here with the lunch pail going to work every day and leading by example,” Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson told the news source. “It shows on the field all the hard work they’re putting in [on defense].”

Fort Belvoir youth learn fundamentals

Young athletes at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, Virginia, aren’t thinking about Pro Bowls and the playoffs like Johnson and Quin. Instead, through the U.S. Army’s Child, Youth and School Services sports program, they’re learning that teamwork matters more than personal achievements.

“These programs are designed to offer a safe and healthy environment for young people to have fun, interact positively with others, and acquire skills leading to lifelong enjoyment of sports and fitness,” Jerry Arrington, Fort Belvoir CYSS sports and fitness director, told the news source. “Fundamentals, maximum participation and physical conditioning are emphasized over winning or losing. We want to ensure that the physical, cognitive, social and emotional needs of our youth are addressed.”

The most important aspects of youth sports, such as teamwork, health and fundamentals, can never be practiced enough. And these basics can be shared through efforts like the CYSS sports program or through sports software with practical information.