Team Competition

Most people may never have the privilege in competing in a Team Competition – a team of qualified grapplers or combat athletes coming together to compete as a unit. This is the most enjoyable experience. I had the privilege of competing in two of these competitions.

Mental Preparation foe Team Competitions

Most people may never have the privilege in competing in a Team Competition – a team of qualified grapplers or combat athletes coming together to compete as a unit. This is the most enjoyable experience. I had the privilege of competing in two of these competitions. The first was in 1999 in Brazil at the Campeonato Brasileiro De Equipes (National Brazilian Team Championships). My team was also composed of my BJJ instructor Leo Dalla, Guigo, TaTa and Gabriel Napao. I had just received my brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu three days before the event, and in my first match I faced a BJJ black belt for the Power House Team, Alliance. (At the Brazilian Team Championships, the Brown Belts are combined with the Black Belts.) This was my first very competition in Brazil. I was able to pull out the win, but the support that I got from my teammates really helped. My team won the silver in that event. My second time competing in a Team competition was in 2003 at the NAGA Pro Ams. There were four teams: The American Top Team, Team Renzo Gracie, Florida Freestyle and Team Lloyd Irvin. This would decide the top team on the east coast. At the event, each team included a representative at 149.9 lbs, 169.9 lbs, 189.9 lbs, 205 lbs and one super heavyweight. All of the teams were great sports, and everyone had a wonderful time. Team Lloyd Irvin ended up splitting the title with The American Top Team in the end. If you ever have the opportunity to compete in this type of event, make sure you jump at the chance. It’s a great experience and you will learn a lot from doing it.

Broadly the mental preparation for team competitions is much the same as individual events, but you have to factor in the team element of the game in your preparation. In team competition, you will have to size up more than one player on the opposing team. The unique thing about teams is that you get to discuss your opponents with other team members and get their views and opinions as well. This sharing of views improves your evaluation of the opposing team. Your next step is to develop strategies in consultation with your team members.

Developing a strategy is a little more complex in a team competition. You have to blend in your individual approaches and integrate your tactics to create a strong opposition to defeat your opponents. In fact, when you develop your strategy as a team, it pays to indulge in an activity often used in the corporate world called “brainstorming.”

In brainstorming, you and your team members come up with as many approaches and ideas as you can to tackle and defeat your opponents. This method is meant to generate the maximum number of ideas and encourage all viewpoints. No idea is shot down during brainstorming. The objective is to be as comprehensive as possible in generating alternative approaches to deal with your opponents. After the brainstorming session, you pool all the ideas together. From this basket you narrow down your options and then zero in on a strategy that you think is best suited to deal with your opponents.

Team Spirit

Teams in grappling and combat athletics have the ardous task of working together and tagging each other to seize control of the situation and establish their supremacy. However, this section is not about how you tackle the team event, it’s about behavior within a team.

Team spirit is a psychological process and is characterized by the moral strength and reliability that you bring to your team. It is a feeling of mutual trust, loyalty, empathy, and consistent support between the team members.

Team spirit should be evident for t to make an impression on your fellow players. You have to be able to support and encourage, without getting into a huff, even if your teammates makes a slip or error in judgment. The high-tension situations in the ring leave no room for recriminations. A player can feel buoyed up if fellow team members shout out approval and encouragement. It reinforces the athlete’s willpower to deal with a tough situation and deliver a good performance.

Cohesion

One of the most popular concepts of team behavior for sport professionals is called “Cohesion.” Cohesion is about bonding, making a mental connection, and being able to develop a tacit understanding. At a very basic level, it is just good chemistry. When you strategize and plan together, you are more united in your pursuit of a win. It starts with spending time together at workouts and practice sessions, it progresses to planning and strategizing as a team, and then culminates with the match or tournament where you put your plans into action.

Characteristics of a cohesive team:

• the team members will have a healthy respect for one another’s capabilities

• the team members will have a healthy respect for one another’s views and opinions

• there should be no ego hassles as each team member has a role to play

• there is cooperation between team members

• there is good interaction, rapport and communication

Sources:

http://www.lloydirvin.com

http://www.lloydirvinlive.com

http://www.brownbeltsecrets.com

http://www.backattacksecrets.com