The Importance of Teamwork - Marco Essomba
The race is on once again for the British League. The new season got started and all the teams are geared up for the most prestigious title in the British table tennis league. The gap between the London Progress TTC and other teams is closing. More and more tops players are joining the league. As the fight tightens between the teams, a mix of individual performance and teamwork becomes ever more crucial. Teamwork will undoubtedly play a large and important part in deciding the team rises on top of the challenge.
Working as a team: Though table tennis is an individual sport, in team events, working as a unit is crucial to achieve the highest results. Looking at last weekend British League it was noticeable that most of the teams were not working as entities, but rather as individual players. That explains why the British League atmosphere seems like a usual table tennis grand prix tournament. Teamwork should be the essence that drives all the teams. Teamwork is the way to put some atmosphere into the hall. Teamwork is what really works. At the exception of few teams that provided constant support for their team-mates, the rest of the teams were more or less dead quiet. It seems as if giving support to your team-mates would earn you a yellow card.
What do to: Of course, teamwork is not something that can be forced upon players. Rather, it is a team habit to be practised, the benefits of which must be understood by all players. The collection of individual victories yields the final reward. Each match is important, and players should be at least 110% behind their team-mates. With this in mind, the performance of individual player’s increases and the team moves one-step further toward the ultimate goal: the championship title.
How can one tell when the teamwork is less than ideal? When you find yourself playing a game and your all or most of your team-mates are absent AND all of the team members of the opposing team are all present AND giving massive support to their member! The feeling of isolation that accompanies this circumstance is unforgettable! All players benefit from a tip or two from a team-mate giving a perspective that is different from the one being experienced by the player.
The British League is getting stronger each year. As more and more top players join the league the overall level is on the rise. However, overall team spirit is still lacking. Team members must work as part of a unified group rather than as individual entities, with one goal in mind: winning the overall challenge. It is the collection of small efforts from each team member that yields the greatest reward. Teamwork is the way forward not just in the higher divisions and leagues but also in the local leagues!
Teamwork is what works! Marco Essomba |
