What is meant by a team mentality?
Many athletes refer to their “team” as a “family.”
However, a team is more like a workforce. A successful company comprises many roles, with each employee understanding their job description and what is specifically expected for each shift. When employees perform their roles to the best of their ability, the company runs like an efficient, effective, well-oiled machine.
The same is true of successful sports teams. Teams need to work together to win. When players are unclear about what is expected of them or try to perform outside their roles, the team becomes dysfunctional.
Imagine a basketball game in which everyone wanted to be the lead scorer.
Players would hog the ball, overlook open players, and hoist up ill-advised shots to achieve their agenda.
The same is true for gymnastics. If your best event is the floor routine, but the coach believes you would be most helpful to the team if you were on the beam, a negative attitude could impact the whole team, causing friction and underperformance.
There are some crucial elements of the “Team Mentality”:
- Accountability: Taking responsibility for your role and actions. Players hold themselves and each other accountable for their thoughts, attitudes, actions, and behavior during practice, competitions, and away from the game.
- Embrace your Role: Embracing your role requires understanding it, knowing what is expected of you, and how to meet those needs.
- Take Pride in your Role: Peak team play occurs when each player performs their role to the utmost of their abilities. When players want to match their personal statistics, lead the team in points, or be the hero late in the game, teams tend to fall apart.
- Stay Positive and Encouraging: Even if you are not actively playing, you can still be engaged and support your teammates. To be an asset to your team, maintain a positive attitude, and help your teammates fulfill their roles on the team.
- oStay Ready and Prepared: Always be mentally and physically prepared to perform, even if your playing time is limited.
This readiness shows your commitment to team goals and can be crucial when your number is called in unexpected situations. Adopting a team mentality can make you a valuable role player who significantly contributes to the team’s overall success.
Take, for instance, the following Olympic example. After Kawhi Leonard could no longer continue his Paris Olympic run with the U.S. men’s basketball team due to an injury, Team USA called upon guard Derrick White to fill the vacant spot.
White is now among the 12 chosen NBA players to represent the USA in the Olympic games. While White is not a prolific scorer, he is a stout defender, especially on the perimeter. He will serve as a role player and understands what is expected of him.
WHITE: “I just want to go out there and do what I do, try to fill any holes we might have.”
Being a good role player on an athletic team involves embracing your specific responsibilities, supporting your teammates, doing what is needed, and contributing to the team’s success.
When players buy into a “team mentality,” teams are more capable of achieving their potential.
Specifically, define your role for each competition. Your role may change from game to game. If needed, talk with your coach about what is expected.
Related Sports Psychology Article
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“First, I would like to thank you for the help given to me through your programs, ‘The Confident Athlete’ and ‘The Focused Athlete.’ I have made tremendous sacrifices though all these years to become a top Olympic Trap shooter but something was missing. This missing part was with my mental game. My scores increased tremendously in record time and others said that I was a different shooter.“
~Marios Kapodistria