There's no "I" in TEAM

Yeah, you've heard it before...there's no I in TEAM. It's the common motivational sermon of the team manager to aid cohesion. There ain't no individuals worth more than the team. And it's true in some cases...where would Mark Cavendish be without team HTC Highroad? Or indeed could Wayne Rooney cope without 10 other skilled players?

A couple of conversations recently set me thinking on this subject - there's no I in TEAM. One individual explained how he left a team sport in favour of boxing - an individual sport because he was putting in the effort to be fit while others were out drinking the night before a match. He was making up for their lack of fitness. Where was the fun in that! And I can understand where he was coming from and wanted his input to be rewarded, not withheld by the lack of effort from others. Another individual reminded me of the times past when as part of a cycling team we used to celebrate together after each weekend race...win, lose or draw...yet cycling is more or less an individual sport. I mean, nobody says Team BMC won the Tour de France, Cadel Evans did.

So is there an "I" in "TEAM"? Yes there certainly can be. Reflect back on an earlier comment...where would Manchester United be without Wayne Rooney? Still certainly successful...but as much so? Would HTC Highroad have won so many races without the ability of Mark Cavendish in a sprint?

So we come to the sport of Kettlebells. It is most certainly an individual sport. Once you're on your platform and the clock starts...it's all you. Nobody can assist you or support your efforts. Nobody can train you as hard as you train yourself...it's down to your ability. So on the face of it, it isn't a team sport. 

But what if an individual could be a member of a team of people who appreciate your, and their aims as a common goal? Cycling being an individual sport still requires the help of your team mates to win. Kettlebells...well, not really in the same manner. But if it wasn't for the support of your club members, the banter, the pushing of each other to excel, the coaching, the direction, the camaraderie, the challenge, the appreciation...would that individual still be as good if they were on their own? Nah...don't think so. I couldn't push myself on my own and it takes a special breed of person to be able to do that.

Certainly there's no I in Team in a literal sense but there is scope for individuals to aid a team to success. But in the sport of Kettlebells without a team...there is no I.