Teamwork

I’ve also learned that there are people who would rather rent a fifty-two-foot motor home and drive it 250 miles to stay in a Wal-Mart parking lot—because the town hosting a race doesn’t have a five-star hotel. I know who snores, who has gas—and why. I know who, on a frequent basis, accidentally squeezes Gynecort on her toothbrush instead of toothpaste.

Then there are the nuances of personalities that slowly emerge. I know which teammates prefer to be alone when under stress. I know who the chatterboxes are. I’ve learned who needs a little encouragement and who thinks she has all the answers. I know who is more likely to bristle when the pressure is on—moreover, I know exactly what types of comments cause the bristling: “Hey Angela, I hear that in twenty years, when you’re seventy-years-old, you plan on going pro.”

And peeling away additional layers, I start to realize what motivates my teammates. I’ve learned their fears, their weaknesses, their true strengths, and their inner “heroes.” I recognize the bravery and the determination of these women. And in recognizing all of this, I am able to better support these women. I am able to be a better friend—a sister.

And, as I have been shown by a teammate with sisters, it’s okay to tease and taunt and harass. And if someone is occasionally bitchy or often times hard-headed, if someone is slovenly or a drama queen, we don’t kick her to the curb. As long as behavior is not disruptive to the team as a whole, we accept these traits, forgive when necessary, and move forward. These women are joined together based on strengths and competencies, not on who is liked or disliked. And like a family we recognize this. We are, after all, sisters—and we stand united when facing other teams. So when a member of another team yells at our sister: “Hey, watch it when you’re coming through! You’re a lot wider than you think you are, you know!” We’ll gather our forces and stand up for what’s ours.

I think the world of sports has typically been built on male models of structure and relationships. Within this world, boys learn to operate and unite. And so I enjoy the opportunity to operate within such a structure and make it uniquely feminine, all the while learning that women don’t need to splinter and turn against one another. As sisters, we can unite, find strength in one another, and thereby catapult ourselves toward excellence. I think “sisterhood” should be considered one of the benefits of girls involved in team sports.

Photo: Matthew E. Mar