Talent is not enough to be a great player. If you want to improve your game and that of your teammates, you can learn to fill the role required by the team, lead your teammates with your example and be sporty. Teams need good players. Are you up to it?
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Learn Your Role
Step 1. Develop the fundamentals
If you want to be a good team player, you will first need to work on your skills as an athlete, taking the time to learn the fundamentals of your sport. If you want to be a great basketball player, you will need to learn to dribble, develop your defensive skills, and learn how to make good passes, for example. If you want to become a great soccer player, you will need to learn to control the ball, shoot accurately and move in space.
It is certainly more fun to play than to train, but training is essential to improve. Instead of just shooting for baskets, practice dribbling, or work on your defensive skills with your coach. Working on these less fun skills will help you stand out and get stronger
Step 2. Learn the responsibilities of your position
Playing in a team means playing a specific role. It is not the aim of all players on a football team to score, and not all volleyball players have to dunk. Being a good player means learning the specific responsibilities of your riolo, and understanding how to best cover it.
- Learn where to position yourself on the pitch and what your specific task is. If you have to play defense, you understand which man you have to mark. If you are in possession of the ball, how can you best distribute it to your teammates?
- When you first learn to play a sport, you will probably dream of filling the most eye-catching roles: forward, point guard, quarterback. A great team, however, is made up of players who fill the roles that best suit them. If you are a great defender, don't waste energy envious of the attacker. Learn to appreciate your role and strive to improve your skills.
Step 3. Train hard
Not missing a workout, and completing them at maximum intensity is essential to be a good team player. Train hard and you will improve your skills and knowledge of the game, bringing yourself and your team closer to success.
- Show up for workouts on time and be prepared to work hard. Bring all the necessary equipment and lots of water. Start with stretching and be ready to work hard.
- Approach training in a positive way. Some athletes are very talented, but they give the impression that they would rather stay at home and play video games than improve with their teammates. Try to be a better player than that.
- Give it all during your workouts. If you save money when training in the gym, running, or exercising, you will be slower, weaker, and less skilled than your opponents. Don't neglect your workouts.
Step 4. Take care of your health
Even if you are a great athlete, you cannot be a good player if you spend all your time on the bench recovering from injuries. It is very important to take care of your body and stay healthy and ready to compete to give your team the best chance of winning, in all matches.
- Warm up before training and loosen your muscles after the session, every time. Never run on top without first stretching and warming up. Good players should also take several minutes to stretch after training to avoid cramps and aches.
- Get enough rest between workouts. If you have to train tomorrow, you shouldn't be up to the small hours playing PlayStation or talking to friends. Get at least 8 hours of sleep, and give your body time to recover and rest before getting back on the road the next day.
Step 5. Stay hydrated during workouts
A study of NFL players found that nearly 98% of them were dehydrated before training, and this can reduce performance by 25%. Sports drinks and water are key to replenishing electrolytes and staying hydrated, giving you the energy to perform and helping you stay healthy. Before exercising, drink half a liter of water, and aim to drink about 250ml every 15 minutes during your workout. Drink slowly to avoid irritating your stomach during your intense workout.
Step 6. Listen to your coach
Good players need to be trainable, and that means you'll have to learn to accept criticism and apply the lessons you learn to improve on the pitch. The coaches are not paid to tell everyone that they are doing well and that they can become professionals. A coach's job is to make you a better athlete and train you to win. In some cases, you will therefore receive suggestions and criticisms.
- Bad players give up and get frustrated when they receive criticism, while the good ones listen and learn. If your coach calls you back because you are not squatting correctly, you may be angry, or say "Yes, mister!" and try harder.
- Never argue with your coach, especially in front of teammates. If you have a problem with tactics, or with something the coach told you in training, talk to him privately. Good players should never question the manager's authority in front of the team.
Step 7. Communicate in the field
Teams must be organized and coordinated to win. Silent teams lose, while those that communicate are more likely to lose. Praising teammates, calling the ball, and communicating clearly about opponents and tactics are key to winning. Make an effort to communicate more than the other team.
It is important to talk to your teammates, but try to avoid insulting your opponents. Unless absolutely necessary to motivate your teammates. In that case, go for it, but don't overdo it
Step 8. Get over the pain
Training isn't always fun, and games can wear you down. But good players learn to overcome the pain of training. When you feel exhausted at the end of a game and have a chance to fly for the door, you may be running tiredly, or you may be giving your all and sprinting. Good players always find the strength for one last shot.
Find ways to stay motivated and energized for matches so that you have energy and enthusiasm throughout the match. Listen to blaring music that loads you up, or watch a movie about your sport. You can also try other team spirit exercises that you enjoy
Method 2 of 3: Being Sports
Step 1. Lose with dignity and win with class
All games have only one winner in the end, and you will understand if your hard work was enough or if you need to try harder. The good players are seen at the moment of the final whistle. Will you be able to handle defeat with dignity? Or will you be pissed off? Sportsmanship begins with the ability to win gracefully and lose with equal elegance.
- When you win, it's okay to cheer, but it's not right to make fun of the opposing team. Be happy for your victory, and never throw it back at your opponents. Congratulate and compliment them, always keeping a positive attitude.
- When you lose, it is normal to be disappointed. Nobody likes to lose. But don't get sad, don't find excuses, and don't blame the opposing team or your teammates. Consider each defeat an educational experience. What can you learn from the game just ended to improve in the next one? What could you have done better?
Step 2. Follow the rules and play fair
Good players don't take shortcuts, and they don't even look for them. Good players that winning and losing is not the only thing that matters, but also how you win or how you lose. You will need to be able to look at your performance with pride, regardless of the outcome. You are solely responsible for your successes.
In many team sports, the rules often change. Learn and study them, to stay up to date on the latest regulations
Step 3. Play with passion
Good players have passion and desire when they are on the pitch, and they use them to achieve victory. For some players, making up a good story for the game is a useful way to find motivation. Saying "It's just a game" is a great way to not give it your all. Michael Jordan often made up stories about how opponents insulted him to make the game a personal affair. He made every match an opportunity to show his opponents that they were wrong (even if they often didn't say anything).
Don't let your emotions take over and push you not to be sporty. Play with passion, but not with anger. Practice using this attitude only on the pitch. As soon as the game is over, leave all negative emotions on the pitch
Step 4. Don't show off
Showing off your skills to impress teammates, observers and opponents means not being a sportsman. Although it often happens to get caught up in competition and want to do well, good players do not need to show off to prove their skills or to feel more confident. You will need to know that you are talented and a good player without needing to keep score, humiliate opponents and show off for the fans.
A good technique to adopt as a team is not to push hard if you are winning by a lot of points. On the soccer field, if your team is winning more than six goals, start following the rule that no one can shoot unless all players have touched the ball. Use the opportunity to work on ball control. Make the game a bigger challenge
Step 5. Don't argue with the referees
When the referee makes a decision, particularly against you or your team, don't protest. Follow his directions to the letter and speak to him with respect. Answering the referee or arguing with him can result in a worse punishment, and is a demonstration of lack of sportsmanship.
When addressing the referee, use the words "Sir" or "Madam" and try to calm down if you feel frustrated. Breathe in for a second and check your emotions before opening your mouth
Method 3 of 3: Being a Leader
Step 1. Lead by example
Being a leader does not necessarily mean a talkative person who gives motivational speeches during the intermission. There are leaders of all kinds, silent and stoic or protagonists and who know how to inspire, but they all have one thing in common. They set a good example. You won't be able to preach well and scratch badly, but instead you will have to work hard and constantly improve. When the other teammates see you giving everything on the pitch, always being the last to finish training, running when you no longer have any, they will be motivated to do the same. Always give 100%.
As a team leader, remember that you are not the manager. It is not your job to tell your teammates what to do, but it is to be a good player. If others are inspired by your performance, even better. If not, just focus on your skills and fill your role as best you can
Step 2. Learn to motivate peers
Teams are only as strong as their worst element. Try to identify teammates who need the most attention and help them by partnering with them during training, or by praising them during matches. If you are a strong player, you may automatically feel drawn to other strong players, but try to spend time with younger teammates who have yet to learn a lot. It will mean a lot to them and make you stand out as a leader.
- Praise your peers, applauding and encouraging them when they do the right things, and when you see them struggling. Take control of your team's morale and encourage them to find success.
- Each team has its own dynamic, and this means that there is not just one way to motivate teammates. Some good players may be motivated by reverse psychology: "You can skip this game if you feel tired. Maybe it's better to have a spring boy play?" Likewise, some players who lack self-confidence may improve thanks to the encouragement: "You really look like a pro on the pitch. Keep it up boy."
Step 3. Never find excuses and never blame peers for failures
Morale can drop quickly with a defeat, but if you get into the blame game, it can get even worse. Never blame your teammates for losing, and never find excuses for your poor performance. It wasn't the referees' fault, it wasn't the wind, or the substitutions if you lost. The fault lies with the team.
- If it is evident that one of the players has performed poorly, there is no need to talk about it. If that player seems particularly sad, take him aside and pat him on the back. It lifts his spirits by telling him it wasn't his fault.
- If one of your teammates is punished for breaking a rule, take responsibility for carrying out the punishment with the rest of the team. If a player receives a yellow card and has to do some laps in the following training, run with him. Invite other players to do the same. Compact as a team and act like one.
Step 4. Make yourself heard from the sidelines
Leaders should cheer and shout, showing the passion of a World Cup final in every match. Praise your teammates and encourage them even when you can't be on the pitch. Let your teammates understand the importance of the game, even if you are not playing. Support everyone and be heard.
Step 5. Give it all in the field
Every time you play, inspire your teammates by giving everything you have. Give 110%. Ignore the pain, rely on training, and make sure you never finish a match wondering if you could have done more. Sweat and spit blood to give your team a chance to win.
