Being a Good Teammate

Buy In

The biggest thing you can do as a soccer player is buy in to the goals and ambitions of the group as a whole. Players who care only about themselves not only make it difficult to succeed in soccer, it is a bad mentality that will hurt you in numerous aspects of life. If the team loses and you soften the defeat with words such as “it was (insert teammate here) fault”, or “it was the referee” then you are in denial. Accept the fact that improvements should be made on both an individual and group level, and work to make those improvements in practice. Encourage your teammates to do the same.

Take responsibility for the morale and performance of your teammates. Your attitude can have a direct impact on the confidence and subsequent performance of the teammates around you. How you react to an error can spread through the team. Players who throw their arms around and complain at a misplaced pass set a tone of whining when things do not go their way. Such behavior will likely make your teammates less keen to pass to you, who needs the headache of you complaining? If a pass is misplaced, lead by example and work hard to win back the ball on defense. Encourage your teammates and help them recover from any tough periods.

Follow the Words on Wooden

Legendary basketball coach John Wooden kept his rules very simple;

• Don't whine
• Don't Complain
• Don't make excuses

Following these simple steps will make you a better teammate, and make more of a difference than you realize. Everyone has their frustrations but keep them to yourselves. If every player on their team whined about their own separate niggles then 11 problems exist, none of which may be the core issue. Trust the coach and encourage your teammates to keep a positive outlook.

Social

Make an effort to socially interact with as many as your team as possible. If game day is the only time you decide your teammates are important enough to speak to, do not expect a strong response. It does not have to take long, just take the time to say hello to each of your teammates and ask how they are each practice. Shake their hand and say goodbye when you leave. Such a small gesture shows you respect and value your teammates, and you will receive the same in return. You do not earn respect simply because you decide you deserve it as you are a good soccer player. Take enjoyment in the success of your team. Whether you are on the bench or the field, congratulate teammates who do a good job.

Organize or participate in team social activities. Trips to the movies or team meals are common forms of team bonding. Run a team fantasy league or facebook friend your teammates for some informal conversation outside of soccer.

Trust the System

Keep an open mind with regards your role on a team. It is common for players to want to join the attack and rack up the goals and assists. This gets you noticed and anyone can see your success. If you are asked to play a different role on the team by a coach, do not immediately close off your mind to it. It is likely the coach thinks that position will bring out your strengths, or serve an important role in the success of the team. If after trying it for a few weeks you disagree it is best for you, calmly speak to the coach and address the issue.

IF you find yourself on the bench your reaction to the situation can be crucial. It is unlikely any coach has a personal vendetta against you. Accept all feedback from your coach and work hard to improve in practice. Do not adopt the attitude of “I don’t play so I can’t prove I am good”. Every time you step on to a practice field you have the chance to show your worth, players that get stuck in a sulking mentality do not perform and trap themselves in a negative situation. Fight every time you step on the field to show your worth as a player, and use the time you spend with teammates to develop friendships.