3 Reasons Why Team Sport – Whether You Play Or Watch - Can Teach Us A Thing Or Two About Purpose

Our favourite sportspeople are no strangers to pressure. Every time they walk onto the pitch, they’re undoubtedly aware of the fact they have a legion of fans willing them to win. This pressure is immense for each and every team member, and it’s even harder to navigate when the game’s final result doesn’t go their way.

In spite of this, we all know what our favourite sportspeople do, win or lose: They keep going. They keep learning. They keep pushing. They keep trying. Why? Because each and every game they play pushes them towards their purpose. That purpose might be to achieve excellence in their sport, or to experience the thrill of the competition and overcoming the physical challenges it presents. Some love being part of the community a sport can create, and their playing a big role in contributing to that gives them a sense of purpose. For other sportspeople, their purpose is focussed on leaving behind a legendary legacy – Hall of Fame, anyone?

And no matter what their specific purpose is, sportspeople navigate that journey much like any of us. They try their best to utilise each experience (whether that’s during a gruelling game or a skill-building training session) to learn more and to get better than they were the game before, or the season prior. This is what can take them from being a good sportsperson, to a great one.

The real-life parallels to our own journeys of purpose can easily be drawn – whatever your personal purpose might be. Here, we look at the surprising ways team sport teaches us crucial lessons about following our purpose. 

In a game of professional rugby, forwards will find themselves deep in the nitty gritty of rucks and mauls against the defending opposition, thus enabling the backs of the team the opportunity to manoeuvre the ball to the try line with less obstacles in their way. The varying skill sets of these players are essential – each in their own way, because without them, the ball is unlikely to make it to the line. The more frequently sports teams work together to achieve these short-term wins, the better they will become, ultimately driving towards their purpose.

Similarly in life, many of us might try to do things alone (and we can do this to certain degrees of success) but learning from and utilising the niche skill-sets of others can take you much further towards your purpose.

Being open to diverse perspectives, knowledge and the skill sets of those around you may well provide you with a faster path to success, or they at least will be there to help to clear obstacles as you progress through your journey.