GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — SportsLife is a recurring blog examining issues that impact young athletes, their families, officials and the greater community. Topics come from YOU: email them to news@kare11.com with SportsLife - Dana Thiede in the topic line.
We all know that guy or gal, the one who can seemingly pop three-pointers with their eyes closed or take a puck end to end before making the goalie look like a traffic cone.
Those players dominate the score sheet and grab the spotlight, but here's a news flash: they might not be the most important person on the floor or ice. That title might go to someone who unites the locker room, lifts spirits on the field of play and accepts responsibility when things don't go right. A good teammate can absolutely be the MVP.
Becoming the teammate others look to requires much more than physical skills and ability, says Dr. Justin Anderson, owner and director of Premier Sport Psychology in Edina. With winter season getting underway there are plenty of young athletes who are now playing with people they either don't know at all or don't know that well. Anderson says there are clear characteristics and behaviors a good teammate has that help make a positive impression.
"High output, low ego," he explains. "A person that has a high degree of growth mindset and is really willing to explore what they can do to be better. Communicate really well, be able to provide support and development for others... And then ultimately bringing positive energy. As a human being, it is a lot easier for us to be negative. And it's a lot easier for us to be critical. But those that really have the mental toughness and fortitude to be positive and constructive with others, we see those folks continue to elevate and get to places faster than the ones that are critical."
Be That Teammate
Anderson shared a laundry list of behaviors that go a long way toward being a good teammate and creating a culture of success for any team.
- Prioritize the success of the group over individual accolades and recognition: "Team number one; you're number two."
- Recognize effort: Give high fives/fist bumps/daps after a good play, not just to those who score but to a teammate who got the assist, hustled back to make a stop or dug a puck out of the corner.
- Avoid locker room drama: Talk directly about problems or misunderstandings with the person involved in a calm, non-judgmental way. Don't bring it up to someone else and create a "drama triangle" that can divide a team.
- Have a growth mindset: Be open and willing to accept feedback/criticism that leads to change and improvement.
Win Over Your Coach
Teammates are one thing, but there is also the matter of winning over the coaching staff. A coach determines playing time, sets the atmosphere that surrounds their team and can dictate whether the overall experience is positive or negative. Young athletes will encounter plenty of things in the game they can't control, but Anderson says there are three areas they can concentrate on to show a coach they are "all in."
Attention: Coaches will have their own drills and systems that players need to execute in practices and games. There are plenty of distractions in the world, but keeping your eyes and ears open (and mouth shut) lets a coach know you are paying attention and value what they are trying to teach. "If somebody's not listening to you, I mean, you pick up on that right away. So coaches will notice those athletes that are paying attention, that can make a really good impression," Anderson says.
Effort: Athleticism and skill levels will vary, but every athlete can control their level of intensity and buy-in. "When you're doing drills, go all out, you have a short period of time out there on the ice, or whatever sport you are, make sure that your energy is dialed in and you're going as all out as you can."
Attitude: Don't second guess, stay away from eye-rolling, and be supportive of both the coaching staff and your teammates. "Are you staying positive? And can you echo some of the messages that the coaches are asking for?" Anderson asks.
The Big Picture
Justin Anderson is a believer that sports are one of the few remaining opportunities for young people to develop skills that strengthen and support their mental health. Competition and being part of a team help them to be resilient, manage adversity, and deal with both success and loss. They are skills that will follow them through school, careers, and ALL the challenges that life can serve up.
"I mean all (are) things that we have to deal with as we as we grow through this life... to get feedback, to see results. It's all in a microcosm in sport to play well with each other," Anderson explains. "And I think if we can learn those tools and start to develop those things at a younger age, we are going to be in a much better position for the rest of our lives."
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