Teamwork
Thoughts About A Successful Team
Number 1: Timing and technique are more critical than power and strength
In many sports individual performance, strength, agility etc. are the focus of attention. However, in dragon boating this is not the case. A new principle applies here:
1+1 is >2.
This does not mean that individualism is lost, but that individualism serves the overall purpose of the team. Otherwise, you are individual contributors working in a group, but not as a team. A boat with all paddlers stroking in time moves faster than a boat with stronger paddlers who are not in time. Poor timing means you are using your energy against each other. A good team is focusing on their timing and technique.
Focus on ensuring that you are working with your teammates not against them.
Number 1: Timing and technique are more critical than power and strength
In many sports individual performance, strength, agility etc. are the focus of attention. However, in dragon boating this is not the case. A new principle applies here:
1+1 is >2.
This does not mean that individualism is lost, but that individualism serves the overall purpose of the team. Otherwise, you are individual contributors working in a group, but not as a team. A boat with all paddlers stroking in time moves faster than a boat with stronger paddlers who are not in time. Poor timing means you are using your energy against each other. A good team is focusing on their timing and technique.
Focus on ensuring that you are working with your teammates not against them.
Number 2: One person out of time can cost the race for the whole team
This is where the sweep and coach come in. A paddler may not know that their performance is putting the team’s performance at risk but one person out of time or using poor technique can have a detrimental impact on the overall result. The coach or sweep will provide feedback at training sessions. This is crucial to ensuring that the members of the team move forward together. Accept any feedback from coaches as a way to improvement.
Focus on improving the performance of the whole team by improving your own timing and technique.
This is where the sweep and coach come in. A paddler may not know that their performance is putting the team’s performance at risk but one person out of time or using poor technique can have a detrimental impact on the overall result. The coach or sweep will provide feedback at training sessions. This is crucial to ensuring that the members of the team move forward together. Accept any feedback from coaches as a way to improvement.
Focus on improving the performance of the whole team by improving your own timing and technique.
Number 3: There is no “luggage” in the boat; everyone contributes
We all have bad days, but guess what, the team deserves your best even on those days. We all cover for each other when it is needed but everyone contributes.
Focus on contributing your best at all times and applying your strengths more often.
Number 4: Treat other teams with respect but don’t get distracted
In the heat of a race it is easy to notice where the other teams are in the race and get distracted. But you can only control what happens in your boat, not theirs. There is nothing you can do about what happens in their boat but you have all the control over what you do in your boat.
Focus on the team race plan that has been practiced in training sessions. Heads in the boat!
Number 5: There is always more to learn
No matter what your role or how long you have been with the team, or how many races you have been in, there are always things to learn. No matter how good you are, you can always be better and learn more. The coaches will move you around to different positions so that you can learn new skills and perspectives.
Focus on ensuring that everyone in the team is actively learning all the time.
Number 6: The lead paddlers (strokes) set the pace
There is incredible benefit from everyone in the boat working in concert towards the same goal. It is essential for everyone to be in time with the strokes. Everyone must watch and pay attention. Heads up, look forward. Remember, one person out of time can cost a race.
Focus on keeping in time with the strokes. 'One boat - one paddle' the key to perfect timing .
Number 7: You paddle as hard on a bad day as on a good day
Being in a team sport is about commitment. It is important that each member of the team is fully present all the time, whether in training or in competition. Heads in the boat.
Focus on every individual in the team performing their best every day.
Number 8:Teams win and teams lose, not individuals
In Dragon Boating, teams win, not individuals. The entire boat crosses the finish line or it does not. The people at the front of the boat or the sweep do not get more of the ‘win’ that others. The team wins or the team loses. We are all one team.
Focus on being all one team. Individual skills, style, experience and knowledge all contribute to the work of the team. At the end of the day, we are all one team who achieve the results or not.
We all have bad days, but guess what, the team deserves your best even on those days. We all cover for each other when it is needed but everyone contributes.
Focus on contributing your best at all times and applying your strengths more often.
Number 4: Treat other teams with respect but don’t get distracted
In the heat of a race it is easy to notice where the other teams are in the race and get distracted. But you can only control what happens in your boat, not theirs. There is nothing you can do about what happens in their boat but you have all the control over what you do in your boat.
Focus on the team race plan that has been practiced in training sessions. Heads in the boat!
Number 5: There is always more to learn
No matter what your role or how long you have been with the team, or how many races you have been in, there are always things to learn. No matter how good you are, you can always be better and learn more. The coaches will move you around to different positions so that you can learn new skills and perspectives.
Focus on ensuring that everyone in the team is actively learning all the time.
Number 6: The lead paddlers (strokes) set the pace
There is incredible benefit from everyone in the boat working in concert towards the same goal. It is essential for everyone to be in time with the strokes. Everyone must watch and pay attention. Heads up, look forward. Remember, one person out of time can cost a race.
Focus on keeping in time with the strokes. 'One boat - one paddle' the key to perfect timing .
Number 7: You paddle as hard on a bad day as on a good day
Being in a team sport is about commitment. It is important that each member of the team is fully present all the time, whether in training or in competition. Heads in the boat.
Focus on every individual in the team performing their best every day.
Number 8:Teams win and teams lose, not individuals
In Dragon Boating, teams win, not individuals. The entire boat crosses the finish line or it does not. The people at the front of the boat or the sweep do not get more of the ‘win’ that others. The team wins or the team loses. We are all one team.
Focus on being all one team. Individual skills, style, experience and knowledge all contribute to the work of the team. At the end of the day, we are all one team who achieve the results or not.