Proud father moment last night watching Mikey score his first goal and getting his first assist playing Varsity hockey as the youngest (and still smallest) player on the team. Now I’ve seen him have lots of individual success in athletics over the years. So watching him play well and put up points wasn’t what made me shine last night….it was his teammates reaction. As the “low man on the totem poll”, his teammates could see him as someone taking ice time away from them or feel they could do better. But his teammates do none of that….they support and encourage him and cheer on every good play he makes. Some of the older players even message him before and after games with encouragement. That makes me proud of not only Mikey, but of the team he plays on.
That brings me to the question: What is an athlete’s biggest fear? There is a list of answers but there is one that is often at the top of the list. The fear of failure….not just individual/performance failure, but the fear of letting down teammates. This is what team sports is about…playing for those around you. This is also why team sports prepare you for life itself. The world does not revolve around one person…it is a team effort.
Both Mikey and Emily have been on many teams over the years. Both of them have told me about some of their “favorite teams” they have been a part of at some point. I don’t remember, and I’m sure they don’t either, of those teams records or how many goals they scored or hits they had. It was about the group they competed with as a team…and that is the most important thing!
Teammates for Life
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