MindYourWicket

Cricket has many departments where individual players hold the most, if not entire, accountability. But it is essentially a team sport. A team which is made up of average players who are knit together closely, will win perform stronger on the field than a team which has high-performers who don’t share a good bond with one another. Sometimes it is so easy to be a part of a team. It can be team where you know everybody and are friends with them already. Sometimes it can be a team where many have a common interest which brings them closer. But many a time, it is a team which is fairly new to you where you have a tough time bonding. It can also be a team which houses people you don’t like or you have a bad impression of already.

Unfortunately, team-spirit and team-work is not given enough emphasis at the younger training levels. And even if it is done, it is not done with the right goal in mind – which is to create brotherhoods/sisterhoods and encourage healthy competition. We can however see this more in play during professional tournaments where teams are formed very quick and broken up even quicker.

Below are 6 things you can do to be a better team-mate:

1. Communicate. One can’t stress enough the importance of communication. To make it more specific, it is ‘Effective Communication’ that is required. Unless it is goal-oriented or positive in its message, it is wiser to be silent. We can see many teams which fall apart because of ineffective communication. Communicating effectively and wisely comes by practice. Start by practicing it with your own family members and level it up to your net-sessions.

• Choose your Competition. Many a time a team’s reason for failure is that they chose to compete against each other, rather than compete against the opponents. All the opponent has to do is to pit one against the other. Though on the outside it might seem to be all rosy, in the subconscious level you can look at your own team-mate with venom. How many catches have been dropped just because the fielder was having a tiff with the bowler? How many run-outs have happened for the same reason? Healthy competition brings unity and fun. But competitiveness to the extent of which you would want your own teammate to be a failure in the match, is a terrible frame of mind. It brings nothing good.

If you are experiencing unhealthy competitiveness with someone in your team, talk to your coach and to the player, or talk to your sport psychologist before it gets the better of you and topples the whole team.

• Stay true to your team values. A team’s core values are what set it apart from others. Your core values are beliefs that drive your team. It can be anything ranging from just fun to a social-change. It is quite disappointing when players are part of a team but have no idea about the team values even after years. Core values should be reminded often and practiced even oftener. Whatever your team values might be, as a team-member it is your job to practice it at every given chance, to uphold them on and off the pitch. If you do not know your team-values you can ask your coach. If you feel your team does not have such values, formulate them alongside your team-mates. Read up on the history and keep in mind the future you want your team to get to. A team with a strong identity and strong core values stay together and perform together.

• EQ>IQ.  Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Awareness is the glue that holds the team together. Being emotionally aware means that you can notice your team-mates’ feelings without judgement. Being emotionally intelligent means you can respect those very feelings and understand them. This action takes a team and makes it a family. Emotional awareness is a choice you make. If you respect your team and would do anything to put the team first, you would practice it regularly. But if you do not love your team, emotional awareness would sound like a chore, and would seem very difficult. If you are having difficulty in being emotionally aware or are aware but would like to respond in a better manner, talk to your sport psychologist.

• Positive Contact. Many studies have shown the importance of physical contact during matches. We’re of course talking about ‘non-sexual touching’. NBA teams that exhibited more tactile communication during a match showed better team performances and increased co-operation. This should be practiced not just during a match, but also during practice sessions. Sociologically, we crave contact with other humans. It instills feelings of comfort and security. A pat on the back by your dad, a mother’s hug, a hi-five with your friend or team-mate all give feelings of positivity. Adding physical touch to your communication not only makes it more effective but adds an empathetic value as well. Try it out with your team-mate today. Request something, then request something with physical touch and see the difference. Of course, this all has to be practiced with caution and respect, on and off the field.

• Positivity. In a unified team, there is no room for negativity. They work hard at creating a positive environment in all aspects of the game. Whether it be a warm-up, or just before an important game, or a ride back home after losing said game, everything is seen under a positive light. Different teams have different ways of bringing positivity. Some teams play positive uplifting music and they might even choose certain ‘anthems’ that reflect their core values. Some teams use ‘talking it out’ as a way to squash the negativity-bug and bring out a positive perspective. Some teams use activities like playing other sports, or going on an outing together, just to bring in more cheer. The best way to bring more positivity to your team is to lead by example. What are some other ways you can contribute to your team’s positivity?

Of course, all of the above don’t mean squat if you do not have respect and love for your team. Your high individual performance won’t matter if your team loses. Work hard at being a good team-mate because a strong team is not just put together, it is made!