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Coaches

The Importance of Teamwork in Soccer

Soccer is, above all, a team sport. In order for a team to work well together, every player must be allowed and encouraged to contribute to the best of his/her ability. When you watch a soccer game, either in person or on television, watch for the interplay between teammates. With 11 members on the field, no one player ever determines whether a team wins, and no one player should ever be made to feel responsible for a loss.

It is important for players to feel good about each other and about the team as a whole. Players should be able to trust each other to show up for games and practices, and to play their best. If your team meets these standards, then you are on your way to becoming a good team that works well together.

If the team is working together, whenever a player gets the ball, he/she will know that the rest of the team will be moving into open space for a pass. Successful teams do not have "glory hogs" who want to keep the ball to themselves. Besides, if a player should lose the ball, he/she needs the support and cooperation of teammates to recover and keep the attack going.

No matter what your skill level, there are certain things that you can do to support the team effort:

Support the efforts of each player no matter what the outcome. No one tries to miss a goal or a tackle. Sometimes the opponent simply has the edge on a certain play. Let your teammate know that you are aware of his/her effort and offer encouragement.

If someone on your team scores a goal, go over and give him/her your congratulations. Let the player who made the pass also know how important his/her effort was in helping the goal. No one makes a goal without the assistance of his/her teammates!

If you blame someone for a mistake, it will probably happen again. This is because when we focus on negative behavior, we aren't free to concentrate on the positive. People repeat a "mistake" because it is foremost in their minds. Forget about it and get on with the game. After all, if you make a mistake, do you want teammates and spectators to constantly remind you of it? Probably not. Encouragement reaps more rewards than criticism.

The best thing you can do for your team is simply to display a positive and supportive attitude.

Excerpted from A Basic Guide to Soccer by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
© 1995 by Griffin Publishing Group
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