One of the best parts about the games is the nail biting finish watching players throw last minute shots to break a tie, separating the winning team from the losing team. Basketball is an amazing sport, highlighting talented players!
Relationships can learn from the basketball play books. The secret to having a winning team is in preparation, practice, and playing fair. The following three tips show how relationships can grow from the same strategies that college basketball players use to improve their game and strengthen their teamwork.
Strengthen the teamwork within your relationship
- Preparation: In many ways, relationships grow or deteriorate depending on each individual person in the relationship. For instance, examine each player on a team. Each teammate must be healthy and strong to contribute to the collective whole. If you have things in your life that prevent you from being your best, they will definitely prevent you from experiencing the best in your relationship. Start by working on yourself.
- Practice: Watching the games, players seamlessly passed the ball from one person to the next, barely even looking around, yet somehow they were in sync and the play was a success! How did they know what their teammates were going to do or where they would be? It took hours and hours of practice! Relationships need the same dedication and hours of practice. If you and your partner want to be teammates, you must have healthy communication and that takes practice, patience, and consistency.
- Playing fair: Referees are quick to call any fouls on a play. However, in relationships, we don't have the luxury of having a referee call out the cheap shots; it's up to each individual in the relationship to play fair. Start by taking a stance of curiosity. Why might your partner be defensive? Is he or she protecting him or herself from further hurt? Next, generate empathy. Hurt doesn't feel good. It takes a lot of energy to protect yourself from hurt.
