A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

I’m sure everyone remembers doing puzzles growing up.  How often did you come to the end, but to find one piece missing?   Consider our school teams like a giant puzzle.  There are the players, the teammates, the coaches who volunteer their time, and the fans that come out to cheer on our teams.  All these pieces play a unique and important role in the success of these programs.  Just as a puzzle needs all the pieces to be complete, our teams need all these supports to make them successful.

Part of being on a team is goal setting.  The success of these goals will be determined by the contributions of each individual on the team.  This is why we do things as a “team” rather than individually.  When we work together as a team, we can all use our unique strengths to achieve the overall goal.  We can all contribute equally whether this is by scoring the goals or defending the passes.

  

Everyone wants to be the leader, starter, or top goal scorer.  Unfortunately, this is not possible.  Some of us have to lead the group, while others have to follow.  Some of us score the goals while others stop the goals.  No one part is more important than the other.  Although often times we like to think so, we praise those who score the goals but often overlook all the others who help set up the goal.  Each team member plays an important role; it’s time we start recognizing this and start treating our teammates like important pieces of the puzzle.  Without these pieces, our teams would not succeed.    

Being part of the team is not only about being the best you can, but it is about helping your teammates be the best they can, and helping each other look good at all times.   Every person on a team has something unique to offer.  Being part of a team is coming to practice, committing to yourself and your teammates, and respecting each teammate’s role in the puzzle.  It’s about leadership and working hard in developing your skills to compete.  It’s about working hard and bringing your own individual skill level up through practice.  It’s about commitment, and taking responsibility as a team for wins and losses.   There is an old cliché that everyone knows, “there is no “I” in TEAM!”  When you commit to a team, it is about being respectful to the people who volunteer their time to the sport, to support each other as a team, and to support the parents and fans who come out to watch and support our school.

What piece of the puzzle do you play?