[A little background… I have worked in digital advertsing my whole career, in a digital media agency and at a creative shop. I wrote this with professional relationships in mind, but it can be applied in many ways to all aspects of life. and yes, soccer is the only sport that works… other sports just don’t have the same rules and structure, sorry basketball and football players.]
Looking back on my soccer career- high school, college…
I was the captain. I was in charge of motivating and ensuring everyone was aligned, had the same goals and made smart choices- including helping the newbies learn how to balance other responsibilities (school, clubs, work, parties).
Off the field: We made team and individual goals before the season-during the season and outside of the season. We had rules [not meant to babysit] but meant to keep the expectations clear and the same starting point for everyone.
On the field: in the heat of the game, everyone knew the plays, knew the game plan and worked together.
As much as I was accountable as a captain, I had a coach who was accountable for, and was ultimately, setting the team up for success. He couldn’t play for us, he could prepare us.
I learned very early in my career… 110 yards long and 50 yards wide is way too big of an area/field for me cover by myself and it was crazy to even attempt to do a teammate’s job. I couldn’t play offense and defense at the same time. I couldn’t get back to my position fast enough if i had to run to help someone else in their position, plus it caused confusion if i was out of place. We got it right in practice. In soccer there are no time outs [reason one this analogy only works with soccer], the coach can’t stop the play… it was the choices you made on the field that you were judged by.
Outside of game time, we watched game tapes, we did scouting reports, we looked at where we screwed up, we looked at the stats. And when we did screw-up we ran laps. We knew we were going to get “punished” Talking back = 20 laps. Foul = suicides. Losing = Figure 8’s. There were consequences to our actions, and we knew what they were- we actually came up with them for ourselves.
The ironic part was, all of the “punishments” were paid back in something that made us a stronger team, better conditioned. The coach didn’t just yell. We ran laps which equals conditioning. We repeated set plays 1,000 times to be ready in a game situation.
We didn’t work in silo’s. Each team member had a core position. Goalie, Forward, Defense, Midfield. In addition to the core fundamentals, you learned things specific to that main position. You became good at things your teammates recognized and respected – but they didn’t need to become an expert in themselves. They did, however, know enough to be able to support and back-up when needed. In practice we spent half the time as a team and half the time with your teammates that had the same position. Always starting and ending each practice as a team. Outside of practice you did everything you could to become a better individual player – you dribbled more, you juggled, you watched tape, you lifted weights, you read strategies, you practiced shooting over and over…
A team won when people moved away from the ball, when they supported each other, when they got back and covered, not because you had one superstar. Teams with one superstar may have won 1 or 2 games, but overall they lost as a team and in record.
Trust me, there were days you didn’t want to go to practice. There were days you hated your teammates and your coach. There were days you needed support. But, despite any bad day, everyone wanted to be there. Wanted to be on the team. Wanted to be part of a team and wanted to win. If they didn’t, they weren’t on the team anymore.
In the end, with a winning or losing record (although more fun with a winning one) you have a banquet, hand out awards, acknowledge the small and big goals, the successes and the inside jokes… you celebrated the successes and reflected on the challenges.