How Do you Win in Team Sports? The Short Answer is “As a Team.”
That may sound a little bit trite, but it is absolutely true. How many times has your team played a game when a key player or top scorer was unavailable?
Did the absence of that player cause you anxiety before the competition? Did it affect the overall confidence as a team?
Many times, teams lean on their best player. They defer to them when the game is on the line, especially in highly meaningful or playoff games.
What happens if that player is out for the game? Some teams slip into panic mode. They fear they have no chance of winning when their top player is out for the game.
Before the game, they may receive a pep talk from their coach in the locker room. They want to believe they still have a good chance to win, but the tone in the locker room is one of hopelessness. Players are walking around with their heads down.
Instead of being excited for the challenge, there is a general sense that the team will be blown out. During warm-ups, they constantly look at the opposing team and the talent they are about to face.
This further exacerbates the team’s fear and anxiety. The reasons for this negative mindset are:
- Over-Reliance on the Top Player – Many teams build their game strategy around a key player throughout the season. When that person is unavailable, the game plan feels unrealistic. Many players on that team feel uncomfortable and unaccustomed to stepping up in high-pressure situations.
- Psychological Dependence – Some team players have unconsciously depended on one player throughout the season. These players doubt their ability to step it up, resulting in low team confidence.
- Disruption of Team Chemistry – The absence of a key player forces adjustments with the team. Many players feel unprepared for their new role in a competition. Other players may not have confidence in their teammates, affecting team unity and trust.
- Media & Fan Pressure – Pressure from outside sources ratchets up fear and anxiety. In recent years, cyberbullying has received significant attention.
Fans and online gamblers add to the stress players feel for fear of the negative comments on their social media accounts.
To prevent a team from slipping into panic mode, the team needs to focus on adapting to their situation, relying on their mental toughness, and trusting their training.
If you don’t think you have a chance, you have no chance at all.
In the second round of the 2025 NCAA basketball tournament, USC guard JuJu Watkins tore her ACL. Watkins was USC’s leading scorer and front-runner for the NCAA MVP award.
Many analysts quickly wrote USC off, but the team kept focusing on its strengths, preparation, and ability to compete.
In the Sweet 16, USC stepped up and beat Kansas State to advance to the Elite 8, 67-61 USC forward Kiki Iriafen commented that their seasonal goal has remained the same… to keep moving forward in the tournament, no matter their circumstances, and show their mental toughness.
IRIAFEN: “We just want to keep dancing, so whatever it takes is what I wanted to do, what my teammates wanted to do. I think it just shows our toughness. I loved how we played.”
When you rally around one common goal, you focus on doing what is needed to achieve the objective. This “team goal” mindset helps you prepare, focus, and compete. It’s your mindset that matters.Focus on the Collective Goal – When adversity strikes, shift your mindset to the team’s shared mission. Working toward a team goal strengthens mental toughness and keeps the team moving forward together.
Related Sports Psychology Article
- Team Mindset and the Next-Man-Up Mentality
- How Pro Teams Keep Winning
- How Pro Athletes Respond After a Team Loss
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