Devyn Netz (Marison Bilagody / Arizona Athletics) Another aspect of team sports is that some teams have top players or what I like to call, their strongest links of the chain. When you think of the Dodgers, who is the first player that comes to mind? For me, I instantly think of Shohei Ohtani. He […]
Another aspect of team sports is that some teams have top players or what I like to call, their strongest links of the chain. When you think of the Dodgers, who is the first player that comes to mind? For me, I instantly think of Shohei Ohtani. He is the best of the best. He is a what people in the world of sports would say is one of the best baseball players in the world currently, and quite honestly of his time! It is incredible all that he has accomplished in his career so far as a two-way player, but do you think he would be successful without his team? Do you think he would be able to be the elite pitcher that he is without his catcher? Do you think he would be the elite hitter that he is without the rest of his teammates in the lineup? No! The strongest players are successful because of the teammates that play alongside them! Ohtani isn’t able to be the standout player that he is without his teammates. One’s success comes from the people that surround you and often encourage, challenge, and inspire you to be motivated to win every moment. Truly when one person is successful on a team, so is everyone a part of that team because moments of success cannot happen without each member of a team.
Have you ever heard the phrase “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link?” This phrase means that a member of a group, team, or organization is defined by their weakest counterpart. I have been a part of teams where I have been the weakest link and those were the moments that truly motivated me to not only become a better softball player but taught me to become a better softball player that my team needed, relied on, and trusted in any moment that the game of softball threw my way. The importance of playing team sports is not trying to never be the weakest link, it is about staying motivated to work hard in every aspect of the game such as pushing yourself in the weight room, getting your homework done to stay eligible in your sport, doing the reps and the drills at the field better than you did the day before… it is accepting the challenge to stay motivated to be the best player you can be for your team! When everyone thinks like this, no one ever has to worry about being the weakest link because you are a unit, a force, an alliance… you are A TEAM!
Howdy Wildcat fans!
In this week’s column, I want to share about what the team sport of softball means to me. I have played on many teams growing up and each one has taught me many life lessons and has molded me into the player I am today.
Overall, just remember that what you do on your own defines the kind of team player you are when you are a part of a team. One way to check yourself is to ask yourself every day, are you prepared and are you confident to lead your team on and off the field? It’s not how little or how big your role is for the day, in a given game, but no matter where you stand on the field or in the dugout, always put your team in the best possible position to win! No matter what link of the chain you are game by game, it is your obligation to your team to stay motivated, be selfless, and compete to the best of your ability in order to put your team in the best position to win no matter the circumstances!
What does it mean to be a part of a team? To me, it means that I am playing for something bigger than myself and playing for the people next to me. Being a part of team sports takes a selfless mentality, but also a competitive style in order to be the best version of yourself for your team. The sport of softball truly exemplifies team sports as it is a game of failure and defines what it means to be a selfless competitor.
