CAMARADERIE
is the spirit of good fellowship. It’s the mutual trust and friendship that
emerges among people who spend a lot of time together. The importance of camaraderie in a sports
locker room or act of play is significant. No matter what kind of team sport it may be, a
united dressing room or environment is indicative of a team that will function more
effectively than one where players are bickering or feuding. Teams often take
measures to ensure that players have the opportunity to develop camaraderie.
For example, during a long road trip, teams are often encouraged to dine
together, particularly early in the season when not every player is familiar
with their teammates. Teamwork on the court or field also leads to stronger
relationships. Using a hockey example, football offensive linemen must spend plenty of time
together formulating game run and pass block strategies, then executing them on the on the field. This time
spent together can help build stronger relationships away from the away from football.
Over the course of a season, athletes will
experience periods of success and periods of failure. A group of players with a
strong sense of camaraderie will be able to provide those in a slump with the
support necessary to help snap out of it when adversity comes. This is done through regular
encouragement during games and practices, and can extend to off-the-field or
court gestures, as well. Why do you see different teams with special team
slogans or team rituals they do before practice or games or just in general?
It’s the perfect way to build team camaraderie and doing these kinds of things
gives each team member an individual sense of ownership over the common team
goal they are trying to reach and also provides the motivation to stand by one
another in tough times.
Great teams make an attempt to be on the same page.
Great teams are there for one another in times of need. Great teams push harder
when adversity comes along. Great teams never hang their heads. Great teams
will respect each other and respect the game they play. Lastly, great teams want
to do everything they can to be defined as GREAT
and that’s CAMARADERIE!
