When faced with a challenge, it is essential to use all the resources at your disposal; to do that, you will need to communicate with your teammates, coaches, and family.
Communication between teammates should be a standard for every team. It is important to remember pressure situations sometimes cause players and teams to forget some of their team standards/norms. When the pressure rises remember to maintain communication.
- Make sure you communicate your purpose: An example, tell your teammates (hopefully you are all telling each other) "to focus on this point" or "protect the lines." Whatever it is, by communicating the purpose, the whole team is on the same page.
- Communicate your support for your teammates: Team and individual resiliency increases when the support structure is strong. By showing your HONEST support for your teammates through verbal or physical cues, you are making them stronger.
- If you don't understand something, don't be afraid to ask: If you don't understand a strategy, make sure to speak up and ask. If you aren't 100% clear, there is a good chance that some teammates are wondering the same thing.
- Let your support structure know: Don't assume everyone around you understands what you are going through. Sometimes you will have to let them know. If you are nervous about a big test or tournament the upcoming weekend, let your support structure know and tell them your plan of action. An example: Coach has let you know that you will have extra responsibilities during the next tournament. Your confidence in one of those responsibilities is a bit low, and you want to spend extra time practicing it. By letting your parent(s) know this, you can develop a plan to arrive at the facility earlier than usual and work on that area of weakness.
"Communicate so everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal."