Novosel Knows What it Takes

(c) University of Notre Dame

The Notre Dame Women's Basketball Team Defeated the Lady Flames of Liberty yesterday 74-43 in opening round action in the NCAA Championship. The Irish success should come as no surprise, knowning they are led by star senior guard, Natalie Novosel. She comments on Playing Like a Champion...

A popular saying that circulates through the sporting community is that ‘sports build character’; but a more appropriate saying is that ‘sports reveals character’. A champion has three very important qualities innate to their character that enables them to ‘Play like a Champion’. First, they put the team’s success before their own individual successes. For example, if a player in basketball is not having a very good shooting night, instead of sulking and getting frustrated, they can find other ways to contribute and help their team such as rebounding and defending. This requires an athlete to be self-less.

Another important quality of a champion is that they are leaders both on and off the playing field. If a champion is not a very good leader by example off the court, how are they going to be a leader for their team on the court? Leadership begins in the classroom and being responsible in their daily lives because they are representing a team and their program. Once champions are leaders off the court, it carries over into their leadership on the court, and teammates will be compelled to follow them.

One last quality of many that champions exemplify is that they are approachable and able to relate to their own teammates in order to build their trust in them as a leader and the team as a whole. It is very important for a championship team to trust in each other. The way to best build trust is for everyone to get to know their teammates better so that they can begin to understand where each person comes from. Once an understanding is met, people begin to let their guard down and are willing to let people in and a sense of trust and chemistry is built on the team. This will in turn help the overall success of the team and help all of them to become champions individually and collectively.