Caption: The varsity girls team, taking a picture all together after a tough game. [ by Elisa Oliveira]
Investigating how to effectively balance teamwork and individual talent in sports, two factors that are essential to success on the field.
by Maria Luiza Oliveira
What’s more important for a team to succeed? Unity or individual talent? Some claim that outstanding players have the power to dominate a game on their own, while others are convinced that teamwork and cooperation are essential for success. What is true? It’s a balance between the two, but teamwork can be more important than you might believe.
An overwhelming 78% of voters in the PACA community believed team unity to be the primary element of success, with just 22% supporting individual excellence. It appears that many people value teamwork and friendship more than individual achievement.
Goalie Luisa Almeida, who plays for both the JV and Varsity teams as a freshman at PACA, offered her thoughts on the subject. She responded firmly that she believes team unity is more important.
“Team unity is everything,” said Almeida. “Even if you are a really talented player, you cannot play right if you are not linked with your squad. Last year’s varsity boys team serves as an example. Despite having excellent skills, they were poor team players. “
Her experience highlights a more general reality in sports: even the strongest individuals can suffer in the absence of a strong team chemistry.
“As a goalie, I saw a lot of situations in which skill is insufficient in our games. You can’t win the game by yourself, and cooperation is necessary for it to succeed,” said Almeida.
Athletes generally agree with this viewpoint. Izabela Silva, another freshman soccer player from the girls team sees the value of community within the team.
“When we’re all on the same page, it’s like magic,” said Silva. “We anticipate one another’s actions and have a sense of unity.”
On the other hand, some people think that a team can succeed when a player’s unique ability comes through.
One of this year’s Varsity basketball players (who asked to remain anonymous) asserted, “You need those game-changers, ones who can make plays when it counts.”
One player has the power to sometimes significantly improve the performance of the entire squad. In sports, individual skill certainly counts, but it’s impossible to ignore the growing chorus of voices praising teamwork.
Lucas Abreu, a PACA freshman who plays volleyball for both PACA and an independent league, states “Teamwork makes the dream work,” reflecting an expression that cuts across many sports.
“When you collaborate and have faith in your teammates, it functions like a dream,” said Abreu.
But what happens when talent gets in the way of teamwork? Almeida has seen this struggle on the soccer field.
“If you have a bunch of individual stars who don’t communicate or trust each other, it can be a disaster,” said Almeida. “I’ve seen teams that had all the individual talent but couldn’t make it past the first round of playoffs because they just didn’t click. It’s all about relationships—on and off the field. That’s what wins games.”
Coaches are also increasingly recognizing the value of having a strong team relationship while also developing individual skills.
“It’s important to have both,” said one famous coach in Brazil, Bernardo Rezende. “We work on individual drills, but we also prioritize team-building exercises. If players don’t know how to communicate or trust each other, all the talent in the world won’t matter.”
So next time you’re watching a game, keep an eye on the dynamics at play. You might just see that it’s not always the boat, outstanding moves and skills that actually matter, but rather the teamwork that leads to victory.
