Team Sports and Life

Life would be better if we all played team sports as adults.   There is the obvious reason - physical activity is good for the body and the spirit.   And a lot of folks who don't like to run,  walk or go to the gym will show up once a week to chase a ball or a puck and have a great time doing it.  There's the psychological benefit - almost everyone I know who plays a team sport as an adult talks about how awesome it is to lose all your worries and cares for the hour you are on the field or the ice or the court.  Not to mention, as we get older it is harder to fit time in to see our friends. Playing a sport with your girlfriends is a great way to guarantee seeing each other once a week.  And it keeps us young in body and in spirit.

Team sports remind us of the things we learned as kids. Many of the life lessons we learn in grade school are emphasized by playing sports.  And when we move into adulthood, we lose the daily or weekly reminders of these important rules.  The intangibles.   The following life rules we learned as children but sometimes forget as adults:

1.  Play nice.  You never know when the player on the other team will end up playing with you.
2.  Pass the ball.  That's the nice thing about being part of team.  You don't have to win by yourself.
3.  Back up your teammate.  Every one makes a mistake from time to time.  If you back up your team mate, odds are good she'll back you up as well.
4.  Keep your head up.  It's easier to see what's coming if you are looking for it.
5.  Keep your stick on the ice.  It's hard to score if you aren't ready.
6.  Pump up your team.  At least half the battle is mental.  If you think you can win, you CAN win.
7.  A team is greater than the sum of its parts.  Find a place for everyone and play to their skills.  Everyone has something of value to contribute and the best teams find a way to get the most from all of their players.
8.   There's a reason they play the whole game.  The team that scores first doesn't always win.  The game winner can't always be predicted ahead of time.  And, if you do lose, it is better if you win the second half.  Plus, few things in life feel better than a come from behind victory.
9.  Sports give you a (well-deserved) excuse for beer and pizza.  In my case, at least tonight, a Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA (yum).

And that brings us to the most important factor in the equation.  Life is short.  Have fun. And very few things are more fun than playing a game.  Kicking a ball.  Shooting a puck.  Laughing with friends.  Cheering each other on.  And celebrating life.