Type of members - team players
Team players play a vital role in pushing the club forward and keep its momentum. They are the backbone of every sports club because they thrive on collaboration and share their knowledge with everyone. But it’s not always roses and sunshine with them either.
Let’s dive a little deeper into what makes a team player.
What defines them?
Team players are first and foremost great communicators. They know how to effectively pass along information, provide constructive feedback and express themselves clearly. This all helps maintain team cohesion and speeds up conflict resolutions.
Sharing knowledge is their main focus because they know that individual success influences the success of the rest of the team.
They have a strong ethic and inspire others while taking on different roles inside the club or team. They are the ones who like to try out new things and help coaches find new ways of achieving their goals in a quicker way.
Where they excel?
They are born leaders. They don’t necessarily have to be team captain but they will always lead by example. They are the ones who will give that little extra during each session to set the tone for the rest of the group.
Fostering team unity by creating a positive atmosphere comes natural to them. They are able to lift their teammates up even when they are going through tough moments.
They are also a great asset during matches because they are always on the lookout for any advantage they can get to take the win for their team. They will strategize, anticipate opponents’ moves as well as make split-second decisions that will benefit the team.
They truly understand the dynamics of the team they are part of and have no problem seeing it as a whole.
Where they have problems?
One of the main pitfalls team players fall into is conflict avoidance. They might avoid confrontation if it keeps the team harmony intact. This can work up to a certain point when tensions can spill over and hinder necessary discussions about strategy or individual athlete’s performance.
They, also, tend to overcommit. By trying to help out many people they start having a hard time balancing sports, work and their personal life which in turn can lead to burnout.
It’s the job of a coach to timely recognize these situations and divide responsibilities among the team. It’s better to have three different people get 80% of the job done than to have one person be constantly in overdrive.
Team players are the heart of sports clubs. Their collaborative spirit, adaptability, and commitment to their team’s success is contagious. However, they can sometimes have a hard time navigating challenges wisely in order to stay effective.
