I have been blessed in my long lacrosse career to be around a lot of great lacrosse players, and also to play with and witness a lot of great teammates.
They aren’t always the same people.
Not everyone can be a great player, but everyone can improve their game and can find a way to contribute to a team.
Anyone can be a great teammate, finding ways to make their team better no matter what role they play, and yet great teammates are every bit as rare as the truly outstanding player.
Experts acknowledge that one of the lifelong benefits of participating in sports is learning how to function and thrive in a team atmosphere, which has benefits in the workplace long after playing careers are over. Thus, while players focus on improving their stick skills and athletic ability, they also should embrace what it takes to be a great teammate and work to upgrade those aspects of their game and their life, too.
Here are nine things to know:
