Which Meditation is Suitable for Sports Teams?
There are different meditation techniques that can be utilized in various ways.
You can choose to meditate alone or together, at home or during training, follow guided meditation, or practice on your own.
At Focest, we recommend Zen meditation. This is a proven method that has been used by, among others, Phil Jackson.
[Read more about meditation for elite athletes in our free whitepaper]
Phil Jackson: The Zen Master Who Brought Enlightenment to Basketball
Phil Jackson, the former head coach of the Chicago Bulls, practiced Zen Buddhism and was nicknamed ’the Zen Master’. He incorporated meditation and mindfulness exercises into his coaching to mentally strengthen players and optimize their sports performance.
His approach was successful. Jackson won eleven NBA titles as a coach: six with the Chicago Bulls and five with the LA Lakers. This makes him the most successful coach in the NBA, and he is widely regarded as one of the most respected coaches in sports worldwide.
Michael Jordan was particularly positive about Jackson’s unique coaching style and frequently mentioned how it also helped him personally. In a conversation with ESPN in 2008, he said:
“It’s been hugely beneficial to have Phil as our coach. He walks around and burns sage in the locker room, and if we’re playing poorly in practice, he bangs on a war drum to wake us up. You laugh, but that’s part of him. He believes that the Zen, the balance that comes from meditation, gives you the ability to stay in touch with your body and your inner self, and to calm yourself when there’s tension all around.”
Alpha Athletes: The No-Ego Team
As we mentioned earlier, in a successful team, there is a sense of unity. The Bulls team consisted of strong individuals, and it was Jackson who managed to create cohesion among them.
Jackson brought the Bulls together by encouraging them to be selfless and to serve the team’s goal. He succeeded in motivating alpha athletes like Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan to subordinate their egos to the team.
Jackson facilitated the transition from individual success to team achievement where everyone’s talents were expressed.
In his book “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success,” Jackson says:
“I’ve always felt a strong connection between music and basketball. The game is inherently rhythmic and requires the same kind of selfless, non-verbal communication you find in the best jazz combos.”
One Team, One Breath
Jackson used his ‘One Team, One Breath’ technique to create awareness and mindfulness within the LA Lakers.
During pre-game sessions, he had his team practice deep breathing simultaneously so they could synchronize all their breaths as one.
While both that exercise and other mindfulness exercises did not always achieve the ideal result, Jackson still considered them particularly valuable. The exercises helped calm his players’ minds and focus their attention on the present moment.
Summary: Zen meditation is a proven method to create unity in a sports team and achieve better results. Zen master and basketball coach Phil Jackson won eleven NBA titles partly due to this approach.
12 Characteristics of a Successful Sports Team
“The secret of winning football games is working more as a team, less as individuals. I play not my 11 best, but my best 11.”
– Knute Rockne
In the most successful (sports) teams, you see a number of qualities emerge. Here are the 12 most important characteristics.
- Diversity of Talents
A successful sports team encompasses a diversity of talents, qualities, and personalities.
Each team member is unique, with their own experiences and knowledge. It is precisely this diversity that contributes to the best team performances, as everyone brings their own talents to the table.
- Deep Will to Win and a Common Goal
To achieve success and win, goals are necessary that all team members support and commit to. This allows for the creation of a clear plan to achieve those team goals, clarifying who takes on which role.
- Highly Organized
A successful team is an organized team. There is a clear distribution of tasks and roles based on competencies. A tidy team leads to a tidy mind.
- Trust in Each Other and in Themselves
Team members trust each other and themselves. This trust is essential for delivering the best team performances.
- Respect for Each Other
There is psychological safety within the team. Team members respect each other and feel safe to take personal risks, make mistakes, and learn from them, even in the presence of teammates. “You’re only as good as you are willing to be bad.”
Communication among team members is clear and open.
- Each Team Member Takes Responsibility
Collaboration is the key to success, but it’s important that everyone carries their own weight and takes responsibility for it.
- Fun is Incorporated
Sport is not just about hard work and achieving goals, but also about play and fun. Having fun together contributes to a sense of connection and unity.
- Receives Proper Coaching
A successful team has a coach who is trusted and respected by the team members, as seen with Phil Jackson. This coach acts as the glue that holds the team together, unifies individuals into a cohesive unit, and ensures that everyone’s talents are optimally utilized.
- Constantly Working on Relationships
Team members don’t have to be best friends, but respect, trust, and openness are necessary.
- Manages Conflicts
There is room for conflicts, but there is also a good coach or leader with the ability to anticipate them, address them, and keep everyone on board.
- Strives for High Standards Every Day
There is no room for mediocrity. Each team member consistently aims for the highest possible standards. The team and its members are continuously learning, making room for mistakes, and reflecting on this process.
- Willingness to Set Aside Ego
Team members are willing to sacrifice their individual success and themselves for the team. The team comes first, and team members are willing to put in the hard yards for it.
Summary: When you look at successful teams, you see certain characteristics, such as a diversity of talents, a safe culture, and clear goals.
What Doesn’t Work in a Team
Certain characteristics actually hinder the success of a team. Examples include:
– Individual goals taking precedence over team goals
– A gossip culture
– A culture of fear where people are afraid to speak their minds
– Player airing grievances with the coach through their agent or the press
– Formation of cliques
– Poor management
– Being too focused on why something is being done
Summary: Certain characteristics of a team can indeed impede success, such as a gossip culture or prioritizing individual goals over team goals.
Focest for Teams
Zen meditation is the mental training for athletes and coaches aiming for flow and collaboration.
Perhaps you want to make your team even more effective. Or maybe you already have a successful team but feel you could get more out of it. It could also be that you’re consistently facing the same obstacles or lacking a strong team spirit.
I can help you turn your team into an unbeatable unit.
Schedule a commitment-free conversation to explore how I can assist you.
Summary
A group of successful athletes doesn’t automatically form a successful team.
A successful team meets certain criteria. There’s mutual trust, enjoyment, and all team members are committed to a common goal.
For peak performance, a sports team needs a sense of unity. Players set aside their egos for the collective.
Phil Jackson achieved this, notably with the Bulls, through the use of meditation.
If you want to elevate your team to the next level, whether in team spirit, commitment, or performance, Focest can contribute to that.
Feel free to reach out to us without any obligations.
