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 a great athlete. 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 Share on X '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 Share on X
Comments 6
It’s a bit harsher.
Everyone who goes in, goes home.
Or no one does.
Author
Andrew: Now that’s one definition of team — and it’s refined in the most demanding of circumstances.
I love how this also applies to we who are writer/author friends. Some hit powerful spikes, others score crucial goals, but I’ve seen and felt a unified, praying, loving team and been very blessed by it. Grateful!
Author
So true, Dee. This concept of team, and the need to celebrate one another, crosses over to so many aspects of life.
All three of my boys are athletes. The oldest played NCAA lacrosse, plus other sports in high school; my middle played soccer and made it to the state finals, and he plays on a college intramural team, also a multi-sport athlete; and the youngest is a multi-sport athlete in rec sports.
Watching a team win consecutively to get to a state championship is amazing, they were the underdogs for nearly, if not each, game–including the state championship. Losing that game was hard, but they did it as best as any team could. That was a real team. For a lot of the boys, it was their last game playing on a team since they were seniors and not going to be playing in college. They were gracious and polite to the other team. They had grown up to be gentlemen of worth.
Author
Denise: I smiled as I read your words. So much is learned on a playing field or athletic court when it comes to character. The influence of a good coach cannot be underemphasized. The influence of players on one another is also life-changing. And learning to handle losing, as well as winning, is so important for team members.