Being on a sports team in middle school was more than just playing games. It taught me lessons I’ll carry for life—both on and off the field.
Yeah, I get it—you can learn things like leadership and discipline from other activities, like band or clubs. But sports hit differently. When you’re on a team, you have to trust others and figure things out together, which is harder to do alone.
Here are some of my biggest takeaways:
Teamwork Makes Everything Better
No matter how good you are, you can’t win alone. On my team, I had to trust others to do their part, just like they trusted me to do mine. Working together made us stronger—and helped us win games and friendships.
Failure Isn’t the End
Losing used to feel awful. But I realized that failure is just part of getting better. Each time we lost, we practiced harder—and it felt amazing when we finally won. I learned that failure isn’t a reason to give up—it’s motivation to try again.
Practice Really Does Pay Off
At first, practice felt boring. But the more I practiced, the better I got—and it showed on game days! Whether it’s sports or school, I know now that effort over time makes a huge difference.
How to Be a Good Leader
Our team captain wasn’t the loudest, but they were always the most encouraging. They showed me that being a leader is about lifting others up, especially when things are tough. Now I try to do the same wherever I can.
It’s Okay to Ask for Help
Sometimes, I struggled with skills like dribbling or hitting the ball. Asking my teammates or coach for help was hard at first. But I learned that asking for help isn’t a weakness—it’s the fastest way to get better.
Want more tips on leadership and teamwork? Check out our post, https://www.leadyouth.org/post/what-summer-camps-taught-me-about-leadership
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