Image courtesy of flickr.com
Success is meant to be a solitary thing: this is the philosophy you’ve created, the belief that dominates your athletic career. All performances are to be singular; all skills are to be mastered without aid. There’s to be no reliance on teams and their squabblings. There’s instead only to be an understanding that achievement must be earned by you alone. Sports aren’t meant to shared. They are to be conquered — and no others can match your talent for that.
This the assumption offered by many athletes. Their desire to triumph on the field is thought to be too great for the confines of teams. Other players would not be able to provide the same level of determination and would cause only concerns.
This is an understandable inference — it’s simply not a true one.
The value of team sports has long since been proven: social interaction, friendships, introductions to new strategies. There is much to gain from this practice. What few independent players may realize, however, is that offering themselves a little competition can heighten their abilities.
Group involvement leads to victory. This is a fact that cannot be denied. Those who battle for recognition within teams will push themselves toward — and across — their limitations. It’s reported that male athletes will see a 12 percent performance increase when playing against others, and female athletes will see an almost 14 percent rise. This is due to the mental and physical demands of groups: with individuals forced to offer more to prove themselves worthy. And this advantage can’t be questioned.
Discover your true potential by playing against others.
