Team sports and Individual sports

United we stand — The team sports:

Arsenal’s Thierry Henry was the highest goal scorer in the English Premier League. But half of his goals would not have been possible had it not been for mid-fielders like Dennis Bergkamp, Patrik Viera and Robert Pires. And Henry will be the first to admit it.

So, now you have an idea about what a team is. A set of individuals who have one common aim. To play at the best of their abilities so that the team can succeed.

Unless the team succeeds, individual glories don’t count for much.

Sachin Tendulkar was the man of the series in the 2003 World Cup held in South Africa. He single-handedly took India into the finals. But, as he himself admitted at the awards ceremony, that the award means a lot less to him as India failed to win the World Cup losing to Australia in the final.

If you are interested in sports like hockey, cricket or football, we list down a few things you should always remember:

• Being a team man will be just as important as having the talent.

• Often you will have to compromise so that the team remains united.

• Don’t look for individual glory. Personal achievements will always be noticed if the team is doing well.

• Respect your teammates even if they are not as good as you. They are in the team and are working just as hard as you are for its success.

Me, myself and sports — Individual sports:

In individual sports like tennis, badminton or squash, every player has a team working behind him. Coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists to name a few. But they have a role as long as the player is not on the court.

After that, it is all upon self-belief and the desire to win. You will not have a teammate to pat on your back if you do well or miss an easy shot. There will be no one to tell you where you are going wrong and what changes you should make to your game as long as you are on the court.

But that’s what inspires champions. The ability of fighting against the world all alone. And just imagine the joy when they actually achieve what they believe in.

No one can tell you if individual sports are tougher than team sports. Both have its advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it depends upon which sport you take up.

But if you do take up an individual sport, we hope you remember these tips:

• Your success depends upon you and no one else. If you fail, it is only because you have not done well. Neither your coach nor anyone else is responsible for your failure.

• It is important to believe in yourself and have the confidence to forget failures and go back on the court and win.

• Off the field, your coach has a very important role to play. He can see where you are going wrong. Respect him and listen to him. Winning may be upon you, but he can make things a lot easier for you.

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