Kyle Ohman, Basketball HQ (http://basketballhq.com/5-ways-to-be-a-great-teammate)

Attitude

• We Over Me
  • Understand that the team comes first and must be put above any personal goals.
  • Be willing to sacrifice personal achievements for the teams success, if needed.
    • In most cases the teams success also raises your individual success. People like to follow winning teams.
• Bring it Everyday
  • Have a great attitude even when you are tired, frustrated, etc.
  • Encourage teammates to have a great attitude.
    • Must speak to them in the right way.

 

Effort

• No Plays Off
  • Give your best effort in practice, conditioning, the weight room, and any other team activity.
  • Play your hardest regardless of whether you feel like it or not.
  • Teammates are always watching what you do.
    • You are always a leader, one way or the other.
• Off the Court
  • Do your best in everything that you do.
    • Classroom
    • Film
    • Scouting Report
    • Studying
  • Your best effort shouldn’t just be limited to basketball.

 

Engaged

• On the Floor
  • Know the offense, defense, and any scouting report changes.
    • Be able to communicate with your teammates and help them better understand these areas as well.
  • Understand time and score, what the coach wants, game flow, and all the other details of each individual game.
• On the Bench
  • Be equally engaged and communicate with teammates on the court.
    • Echo play calls.
    • Communicate to defense:
      • Cutters
      • Screens
      • Scouting Report
      • Type of Defense
  • Celebrate team success.
    • Bring energy from the bench.
  • Don’t isolate on the end of the bench.
  • Talk to coaches to better understand what they are looking for from you.
    • Shows coaches that you are invested in the game.

 

Role

• Buy Into Your Role
  • Whether it the leading scorer, defensive specialist, etc. you need to master your role.
  • It is all about being the best you can be at YOUR job.
• Improving Your Role
  • Always be working hard on your own to increase your role on the team.
    • This needs to be done with extra work before and after practice.
  • Be ready when the time comes to showcase your hard work.
    • This may be more minutes, more shots, etc. Whatever it is, be ready to go when you are called upon.

 

Leader

• Lead by Example
  • Be the first in and the last out of every practice, workout, meeting, etc.
  • Give your best effort in everything that you do.
• Invest in Teammates
  • Bring teammates to the gym with you to workout.
  • Hold teammates accountable in practice and games (speaks to them in the right way).
    • Must earn the right to do this by being consistent (goes back to daily attitude and effort).
  • Celebrate another teammate’s success.
• Knowledge
  • Help teammates better understand plays, defense, strategy, etc.
    • To do this, you must be willing to put in the extra time to make sure that you understand team strategy at a high level.