Quality Teammates and Their Traits
From enduring long bus rides to suffering through team losses, being a teammate who values and has good chemistry with others is integral to success as part of a team. Display of good qualities from a teammate helps motivate others to follow the same values, which can even transcend beyond the sport to their personal lives. Good teammates and their character traits are what help develop both their team and sport, allowing them to grow and learn as individuals constantly. Having great team dynamics increases the group’s chemistry, which therefore brings success as a cohesive team.
Team Support:
How your team members view and treat each other as team members directly influences their attitude toward their sport. Sports psychologist McKenzie Bromback states that “[the people in your team environment] contribute to [not only] your overall mental health and wellness but also performance”. Teammates each play their role in contributing to the team through whatever strengths they bring to the table and hold their weight without being a burden to others.
Why are Teammates Beneficial?
Teammates push each other to be better - The people that you surround yourself with determine your attitude and actions, especially as an athlete. Teammates push each other to improve their skills and efforts, whether it be through encouragement or competition.
Working together to achieve goals - The concept of teamwork often draws parallels to the idea of horses pulling weight together, where the effort of a group of horses surpasses that of an individual. Amy Cragg, the 2015 American marathon champion states that it enables her to rely on her teammates and understand the collective achievements made possible compared to individual efforts. This approach emphasizes the value of teamwork and pursuing shared goals.
Team friendship and chemistry - Teammates rely on good chemistry to enhance the team's performance. When they understand each other's strengths and weaknesses, they can complement each other's abilities effectively. Building trust and communication among teammates, fostering a supportive environment where they can efficiently work together.
Common goals - Teammates often share the same or very similar goals with each other, and this commonality among team members can help develop a sense of connection and create friendly competition.
Qualities of Good Teammates:
Teammates do not have to be the most skilled or experienced at their sport to be good and encouraging teammates. What’s important is that they embody certain characteristics that foster team unity and cohesion. These qualities include:
Responsibility - Being a teammate requires a strong sense of responsibility, meaning they take ownership of their actions and their impact on the team. Rather than shifting negativity and blame on others, they understand how their actions can affect others.
Communication - This is one of the most crucial qualities of a good teammate, as it allows smooth interactions amongst teammates that allow for the exchange of helpful critique while not offending either side. Communication builds a strong team chemistry that is not afraid of making an athlete better by telling them what they need to improve. It also allows teammates to know more about you as both an athlete and a person.
Trust - It is easier to rely on your teammates to do their part rather than think that you need to pull all the weight. Trust in your teammates, and the pieces will fall together as they play in unison.
Compassion - With a team that will experience losses, athletes are bound to become discouraged in one way or another. Teammates must show understanding and empathy through each other’s struggles rather than express discouragement and disappointment.
Honesty - Teammates are not afraid of identifying the flaws of others, as it allows them to improve what they are lacking in. With honesty, they also become accustomed to criticism which brings encouragement to become better.
Effort - Good teammates are constantly working hard and applying their efforts, setting an example to not be lazy as part of their team, causing them to be better at their sport through hard work.
Sources:
“Helping Our Players Become Good Teammates.” Kings Hammer, 28 Mar. 2024, kingshammer.com/club/education/helping-our-players-become-good-teammates/.
Kyleelmendorf. “8 Qualities of Great Teammates.” Lead ’Em Up, 1 Sep. 2023, leademup.com/blogs/8-qualities-of-great-teammates/.
Schatz, John. “The Power Five: Team Support.” Premier Sport Psychology, 25 Mar. 2024, premiersportpsychology.com/2022/08/19/the-power-five-team-support/.
Stratton, Jess. “Here’s Five Reasons Why Teammates Are so Important.” MileSplit United States, www.milesplit.com/articles/311911/heres-five-reasons-why-teammates-are-so-important. Accessed 9 Apr. 2024.