The Sum of the Parts

Before he coached the Matilda’s, the Australian team coach said he always felt this was a hard team to coach against. He wanted to know why. The Australians were not the best, but they were always hard.

Since coaching the Matilda’s, he has found out why. The culture in the team is one of caring for each other. Not a team of champions, but a champion team. The care extended to not only the players but the coaching staff. There was a real feeling that all were in this together and had each other’s back.

I saw this in part in table tennis. Australia has a good health and safety reputation. This was put down in part to their being so few to choose from. We have a reputation of looking after our players. Other larger countries have thousands to choose from. If one is injured there are a multitude ready to take their place.

Naturally having many at hand is not a bad thing. It is the attitude that counts. Having a great number of the best that are cared for is ideal to me. Having a great number available to enhance only the national reputation is for me not good. Personally, I would rather be a cared about also ran than a lonely best.

Australian Story featured Luke Langley who played for the Chicago Bulls. They won the top teams event in the US three times in a row. Something considered very hard to do. A movie was made of their road to success. Yet although an integral part of the team Luke did not feature n the movie at all. Yet so many he played with said he would be the first player they picked.

Why? Because he was a rare talent who looked out for all the players rather than just making a name for himself. There was another player on the team who is considered by some to be the most famous person in basketball. He made comments also. The others got together and remain friends.

Some would argue that a team needs a talented long ranger. I would not. I would argue that a team needs someone who seemingly leads alone but is someone relatable. Others fight for them because although their talent stands out, they are always considered “one of us.”

I say it so often that a champion team will beat a team of champions. Yet it is not the fact they win or lose that matters to me, but they are all in this together. The sum of the parts is greater than the whole.