3 Things You Need To Do When You Make A Team

1. Soak It In

Congratulations! You made it to the other side; but not only did you make it, you’ve made it on your dream team! (If that last bit isn’t true, then this article is for you)

I’m so very proud of you – you have clearly put in the work and had a good tryout and I want you to take a moment to pause and celebrate that!

If you want to have a long career in basketball, you should know now that it is important to make sure we take the time to celebrate our achievements. Not doing so definitely increases our risk of burn out when we go from one thing to the next to the next. So pause right now and take the time to soak it in!

2. Be Courageous (Let Your Light Shine)

In all the excitement and reflection of soaking it in – you may find that your mind wandered to what role you’ll have on your new team. And this is normal to make you a little uneasy considering the unknown and that you’re facing reality.

The reality is there are two types of players:

Star Players (who are also role players)
Role Players (who can also have moments of being a star)

Both types of players require courage

If you relate to player #1, remember:

Be courageous in letting your light shine and accepting your natural role as a leader. You’ll most likely be placed as one of the highest on the “totem pole” so to speak, and you don’t have to shy away from this.

In fact, shying away will only be harmful to your team’s success; know that “as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same” (Marianne Williamson) – Give your team permission to shine by not shying away from your own talent!

If you relate to player #2, remember:

Be courageous in accepting your role without being ashamed of it; there is really nothing to be ashamed of – you are an important piece of the whole; continue to be courageously determined to make yourself and your teammates better by being the hardest worker on the floor and still leading; through action – always – and speech when feeling led to do so.
Shying away from this will be detrimental to you and your team by you most likely reverting to the opposite and having a negative attitude that stunts your development and therefore, your team’s success.

Either which way, be courageous enough to stand out for the betterment of your team and bring them along with you in that courage!

3. Keep Working!

You cannot expect to be a “Come with Me Teammate” if you do not embrace your role with courage and keep working! One of my biggest fears with athletes who make their dream team is that they become complacent and stop working hard.

Any advice I give to athletes who don’t make their dream team would also include “It doesn’t matter; get better – keep working!”, and this is why YOU must also keep working.

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”

Truly. Someone will always be right on your tail ready to take advantage of the moment you’re not working hard.

Maybe you are someone who didn’t actually have to work hard to make the team. Well, heed my warning – it will catch up to you! Because those hard workers will catch up to you!

Don’t ever be satisfied and start to become cocky. Stay focused and keep working!

You may have made the team, and of course it’s okay to feel happy and celebrate your achievement, but in the whole grand scheme of things – it doesn’t matter. What really matters is that you keep getting better.