5 Tips for Being a Great Teammate

As a member of a sports team, it’s more important than anything to work as a group and strive for the same goals. Part of those goals should be to become the best teammate you can be to your fellow players. Here are 5 tips for being a great teammate, inspired by some great quotes from some great people.

1. Make an effort

“Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” - Vince Lombardi

Nobody likes a slacker, especially in sports. Take the words of football legend Vince Lombardi and commit to the group effort. Your teammates will appreciate the effort you make to play your best game and give it your all in practice. Your overall performance will be affected by your effort as well. It’s no secret that practicing more means playing better, and the more effort you give in practice the bigger the payoff come game time.

2. Check your attitude

“For success, attitude is equally as important as ability.” - Sir Walter Scott

Great Scott! This quote from the great Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott puts things into perspective. In sports, it truly is your attitude that sets you apart from the rest. Having an amazing attitude can make or break your team. If you keep your spirits high and your attitude positive, you’ll be a great teammate. Even if your abilities aren’t the greatest on the team – your amazing attitude will improve your team’s overall performance.

3. Have pride in your team

“If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride – and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards.” – Paul “Bear” Bryant

Take the words of college football icon Coach Paul Bryant and believe in yourself with dedication and pride. He might come from well before your time, but his advice still applies. Having pride in your team will make you a great teammate and encourage a stronger team spirit. If you are proud of your team, proud of your fellow team members, and proud of your accomplishments – the victory will come. Pride fuels dedication, and dedication fuels victory.

4. Encourage your teammates

Encouraging your teammates to play their best and to get back up when they fall down is what being a great teammate is all about. Just like the advice of German writer von Goethe… You can correct your teammates and tell them how they can do better – or you can encourage them to do better. Encouragement tends to stick more so than correction. Not everyone is receptive to constructive (or non-constructive) criticism, so stick with a positive dose of encouragement to boost your team’s spirit.

5. Enjoy the game

“To me, it doesn’t matter how good you are. Sport is all about playing and competing. Whatever you do in cricket and in sport, enjoy it, be positive and try to win.” – Ian Botham

The Brits may have some different kinds of sports (Cricket?), but this Cricket-playing Sir Botham guy has got the whole idea of sports in check. It’s about enjoyment. Enjoy the game! Staying positive, trying to win, and above all enjoying the actual art of playing and competing. If you’re having a good time, you will affect the whole atmosphere around your team and help keep the mood positive.

If you can encourage your team members to enjoy the game as well, you will not only help your team to victory but also prove to be the greatest teammate ever.