A Thought On Teamwork

I witnessed something last week that I’ve been thinking about ever since. I saw teamwork on display from a group of high schoolers in such a manner that it elevated my understanding of the concept of what it means to be a great teammate.

In the waning minutes of a semi-final football game last week, I lost all hope of my son's team getting to the state football championship game. A hard-fought two quarters resulted in a tie at halftime, but the game devolved in the other’s team favor in the second half as the Tigers went up by 12 points on us with only five minutes left in regulation. When our team - the Red Devils - got the ball back, our QB, who struggled most of the game with bad reads and errant throws, threw yet another interception and all but sealed our fate as semi-final losers.?

Some of the fans began to flee the stadium to get a jump on the traffic, but my wife and I stayed. Frankly, I wanted to see how our quarterback interacted with everyone after the game. He knew his performance was poor. He knew the fans and the media would place the blame on him. And rightfully so, in my opinion. He did not have a good day. I was upset with him and wanted to see visible signs of his embarrassment and remorse.?

The thing is, despite the importance of the quarterback position, football is the ultimate team sport. Eleven guys on offense, eleven different guys on defense, and at least eleven other guys on various special teams, as well as a host of coaches and trainers, all exert significant influence on the outcome of a game. After the opposing team intercepted us, our defense somehow rallied and forced a fumble. A heads-up DB saw the ball on the ground and recovered it. Our offense returned with great field position. Given the loss of faith in our QB, our coaches switched up their play calling, tasked the O-line and the Running Backs to step up and score, which they did! Our kicker then made the extra point, and the Tiger’s lead was cut to 5. On the ensuing kick-off, our kicking team buried the opposing team deep in their own territory. Our defenders knew they could not allow a first down. The coaches spent all 3-time outs to preserve as much time as possible on the clock, and our defense held, causing the Tigers to punt.?

Our offense re-took the field with 1:42 remaining on the clock. We had to go 73 yards to score. Our coaches had no choice but to throw, so they relied heavily upon our star-wide receiver to do most of the heavy lifting. The QB’s job was reduced to simply get the ball as quickly and as safely as possible to our hot-handed #2. This kid then juked and jived his way down the field on a series of screenplays and short out-routes that exploited the opposing team’s conservative scheme to prevent any big plays.??

Then, with 2 seconds remaining on the clock, and the ball on the 9-yard line, we had one last chance. The fans were on their feet cheering for #2 to save the day. Unfortunately, the opposing team would not let that happen, and triple covered him, leaving our QB with nowhere to throw. A defensive lineman then broke through our O-line and barreled down on our quarterback, who luckily spied him at the very last second and made an evasive move. He was now running for his life to the far right side of the field. Going out of bounds would end the game, and attempting to run the nine yards for the touchdown was a fool's errand. Luckily, some kid no one had thought about, #96, sprinted in the opposite direction of the QB's scramble and got a few steps behind his defender. At the last possible moment, off his back foot, our QB twisted and threw the ball against all this momentum. Using every ounce of arm strength, he flung it into the fully outstretched arms of his receiver.?

Catch. Touchdown. Game over. We won.

The thrill and unbelievableness of the comeback were exhilarating. It was one of the most exciting football endings I’ve ever seen.?It was also humbling because it was a teaching moment for me.

Just a few minutes earlier I was fully prepared to write off our quarterback. His performance bothered me, and I felt like he deserved whatever shame he may feel. Not only is that wildly inappropriate because he’s just a 17-year old kid trying his best, but because football is not an individual sport. If we believe in teamwork, then we must win or lose as a team. While the QB redeemed himself and deserves praise for his last-minute heroics, I enjoyed watching the entire team - players and coaches, starters and second-stringers, celebrate their victory together. When one aspect of their game wasn’t performing well, others stepped up and over-delivered. When the star players were unable to make a big play, lesser-known players contributed in big ways. When some failed to believe a comeback was possible, others refused to give up hope and rallied to make a difference. This team had to use every single second of the clock to get the win, but that’s okay. A win is a win, even if it’s a barely win, or a win at the last possible moment. It wasn’t comfortable to endure the drama while it was happening, but it’s a blast to reflect back on.?

So what does this have to do with anything??

I want to be a better team player. I used to think that meant being trusted to execute my job well. For most of my life, being a good teammate meant not being the weakest link. It also meant I had a duty to communicate well with others and collaborate effectively to avoid duplication of efforts. But I'm learning that being a good teammate also means lifting up others around me and being aware of how others are doing. The best teammates bring out the best in each other and know the sum is greater than any part. Great teammates have each other’s back and compensate for each other’s shortfalls. When any member of the team needs help, great teammates gladly provide it. The best teams focus all their energy on achieving the teams’ goal and don’t fuss about having to play new or additional roles. Great teammates certainly don't worry about who’ll get the credit or the blame.?

Individual accountability will always be important. But I love how NBA legend Joe Dumars said, “On good teams, coaches hold players accountable. On great teams, players hold players accountable.” I like the idea that a highly functional team wins because of the collective accountability and support they have for each other.?

I saw remarkable teamwork last week at my son’s game. It was both inspiring, and effective. I hope they continue to play as a team for the State Championship this weekend. I also hope my team at work, and all teams everywhere will rise to their fullest potential as a collective unit. The best way to do that is to not only improve how well each member does his or her job but also how well they pick up the slack when another teammate is struggling to do theirs.