Team Sports: How Do You Select The Right Organization For You?
Whether you’re in youth athletics, going to college or becoming a free agent in a pro sports league, you typically have the freedom to choose where exactly you want to play. And that’s a pretty major decision.
Whether you’re in youth athletics, going to college or becoming a free agent in a pro sports league, you typically have the freedom to choose where exactly you want to play. And that’s a pretty major decision.Remember, where you play isn’t just about the actual location. The decision you make must also take into account the actual club/team/organization that you’re about to become a part of — how do you fit into the scheme and culture? How do you mesh with the players and coaches? Is there good leadership in place?
As a pro, the decision obviously becomes a bit more complicated with contracts being involved and a higher number of suitors; but as a youth or amateur athlete, where you generally have the ability to choose where to play based on the clubs, organizations or schools in your area, the decision is still difficult.
Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate through your decision:
1. Meet Your Goals
Why do you play your particular sport? What personal goals do you want to achieve? Do you want to set records, win championships or simply have fun and stay active?
Different organizations have different goals based on how they operate and the talent they have. While it’s easy to assume that the goal of any athletic club is to win the championship, that’s not always the case from year-to-year. Sometimes teams need to take baby steps and simply get to respectability and stability first.
There’s a reason teams like the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards couldn’t even get meetings with Kevin Durant.
When choosing your next team, be sure that your goals align with the organization’s goals. If you only want to have fun, you likely don’t want to be in a program that is all about winning. Similarly, if you are looking to push your game to the next level, you won’t be happy with a team that lacks talent.
2. Fit Your Style
Every athlete in every sport has a certain playing style. For instance, you may be the aggressor, or the facilitator, the scorer or the defensive hound.
No matter what your playing style is, it’s important to know what style fits you best and how that style fits within a potential new team. Make sure that you are a good fit. Your new squad shouldn’t just support your style, but need someone of your skill set to succeed.
As a scorer, it may not be advantageous to go to a team that has two of the most elite shooters in the league — *cough* Kevin Durant *cough* — and as a self-less passer, you may not be inclined to go to a team with ball hogs. Much like your personal goals, you should play for a club that aligns with your personal style.
3. Know Your People
Most importantly, no one wants to be put in a bad situation. Time and time again, we see professional athletes go to ill-fitting teams solely to make a money grab, and then be miserable midway through their first season.
Be sure to research the organization your planning on playing for. That doesn’t just include the players and coaches, but the management and front office as well. Talk to as many people as possible that have been apart of the team or club. What were their experiences like? Would they play for the organization again? Get a sense for the organization’s strengths and weaknesses.
Sticking with Durant, there’s the simple fact of organizational strength that should not be overlooked when making his decision to leave the only NBA home he knew in Oklahoma City. The owners of the Golden State Warriors are clearly willing to spend money to win, where the Thunder were unwilling to pay the luxury tax to keep James Harden and one of the best trios in basketball together.
If you want to accomplish your goals, make sure you’re aligning yourself with the right people.
When it comes to picking a new team, you should always put yourself in the best possible situation. Make sure the organization you choose is the best fit for your style, strengths and goals.
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I love that you mentioned that if you are going into athletics, you need to choose an organization that will meet your goals. My wife and I have been talking about finding a team for our son to play on because he loves to play sports, but weren’t sure which one to sign him up for. I will be sure to talk to him about his goals, so we could find one that will meet them.