As March Madness begins to sweep over America, I can’t help but get psyched up.  It’s not necessarily because of college basketball (even though I do love it); it’s about the camaraderie, the warm up music, the special feeling one can only experience from being on a team. I was a high school/college athlete and played field hockey, basketball and softball. I have not since stopped chasing that feeling of being on the field. I play on a summer softball league to maintain the healthy competition and togetherness of playing a team sport.

As a child, joining a team is an extremely beneficial part of development–perhaps necessary. As a kid, you can join a club, an activity group, a sports team; the list goes on. The lessons learned from working together to achieve a common goal translate to their adult life. At the Y, I am part of a team every day. We all have different tasks and responsibilities to accomplish on our own, and when we come together to contribute to the end goal of healthy living, the results are awesome. 

The benefits of being on a team, in no particular order.

1. Positive role models–A dedicated coach can have a lifelong impact on a child’s life.
2. The three “P”s: Practice, patience, persistence–To learn to get back on the horse after failure is an invaluable lesson to learn early on.
3. Creating lasting bonds – Sharing in something as unified as a team creates bonds of friendship that can last for years.
4. Commitment–There will be times a child doesn’t want to go to practice or do their homework, but making a commitment to your teammates is strong, and belonging to a tight-knit group of people makes it hard to disappoint.
5. HAVE FUN–Teamwork creates an atmosphere of energy, competitiveness, and all around fun for the people playing and the loved ones watching. 

And of course, the most important lesson one learns from being part of a team ... there is no "I" in team!

Go Ohio State Buckeyes!

Spread good vibes,

Abbey