“I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it.”
– Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm, though now retired, is a legendary American soccer player. She played forward for the United States women’s national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom of the WPS. She’s helped lead her squads to win a dozen championship titles on the NCAA, professional and Olympic levels.

There’s something that turns a group of individuals into a true team; if Mia Hamm’s experience is any indication, one of the fundamental elements in that transformation is the development of faith and trust in each other, in the coaches, in the system in and, most importantly, in ourselves. This can be difficult, especially in the face of the unknown. It takes surrender, deference and sacrifice, particularly of personal priorities, for the greater good of the team. Perhaps that is the biggest obstacle: the tension that is created when personal interests get in the way. There are so many times in sports when this can occur. We must view them not as obstacles or challenges, but as opportunities or invitations. Put aside that which may hold us back. Have faith; trust the team. When we come together as a team, each of us becomes a part of something bigger than just our individual selves.