Team Work

A team can be defined as a group of players on the same side of a game (Morris, 1981). In a team, each individual is assigned to a specific task and the overall team dynamics involved affects the outcome of the team's performance. For instance, in basketball there are five players: two guards, two forwards, and a center. Each of the players has a specific role as a member of the team. Why are team dynamics essential in sports? Team dynamics are important in sports because the performance of the team determines the outcome of the game. Each team has these basic key elements; coach, teamwork, communication and practice which all have an effect on the team dynamics as a whole. Without these key elements in sports the team may not be successful in achieving their goals.

In sports, the coach must recognize both the strengths and weaknesses in each individual to develop the right team dynamics and to improve the overall performance as a team. For example, in basketball, if the coach initially assigns an individual as a point guard, this does not necessarily mean he or she will ultimately play as a point guard. Following weeks of practice the coach may realize that the individual is more suited to play as scoring guard. In a recent article, Daniel Horton, a young basketball player for the University of Michigan had been injured several times and this could have impacted the team if he had played in his originally assigned position (Spadafore, 2006). Rather than lose a valuable team player, coach Tommy Amakers, recognized Horton's skills and switched him from point guard to a scoring guard, which led to success for his team as a valuable team player. "My role seems to change week-to-week, especially with the injuries and the situation we've been through," Horton said. "But I love it. I like challenges. I enjoy switching from point guard to the scoring guard or to the wing when Lester (Abram) has gone out with injuries. I love the ability to be able to play them all, realizing that helps your team win." (Spadofore, 2006).

Is this your thesis statement?: In sports, as in business, teamwork is the key to success. If so, consider starting out your paper with this statement. Teamwork is what makes a team strive for excellence. We all know that basketball is not an individual sport, but a team sport. Without the coach, for mentoring and guidance, the team may fail. There are five players on the court in basketball and if one of these positions was to remain open, this could cause the whole team to fail. To achieve success, it [What is "it"? Avoid use of undefined pronouns. ] is essential that each of the five players who are out on the court fulfill their function as a part of the team.

Lembach (2005) provided the following example of teamwork. He asked us to consider the Great [The word "great" is considered informal for academic writing. ] Pyramid of Egypt, until the 20th century the largest building on the planet. It stands today as a historical monument to teamwork. The scientists have established that the teams who built the Great [The word "great" is considered informal for academic writing. ] Pyramid were specialized groups of quarrymen, haulers, stonecutters, stone setters and ramp builders, supervised by a hierarchy of managers. (Lembach, 2005).

A critical aspect of teamwork is maintaining continuity among the various members of a team. Continuity can not be maintained if there are continual team member departures and arrivals. When there are numerous personnel changes, a team's performance can potentially diminish if individuals have learned to trust and depend on the members that are no longer a part of the team and/or they have had little time to adapt to the changes that were made. Team continuity is critical because team members become accustomed to working together and in effect begin to understand the capabilities and shortfalls of each individual and can begin to identify when assistance is needed in certain situations.

The effectiveness of proper and effective team communication between team members to achieve fluidity has a significant role in team dynamics. Much like a coach on a basketball team, relaying plays to team players, or a top general in the Army barking orders to the soldiers, the effectiveness of proper communication between team members is essential. In order for communication to be concise, whereby success would be achieved, all members must understand that communication has different elements that form communication. Proper communication involves two parties, the sender and receiver. Communication is not always verbal, it can be non-verbal and each person has a role in communicating the elements that form the intended message. "Communication refers to the act, by one or more persons, of sending and receiving messages that are distorted by noise, occur within