Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / LA Lakers Problems Illustrate Importance of Team Chemistry

LA Lakers Problems Illustrate Importance of Team Chemistry

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Jan 24, 2013

No Comments

SL1-Intro-Howard

The Los Angeles Lakers, picked in the pre-season to challenge for an NBA title, are currently on the outside looking in just to earn a playoff spot (much less compete for a championship).  Currently 17-22, this team loaded with Hall of Fame players including Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, are not only under-performing, but could end up being one of the biggest busts in the history of sports.

Of course, there are countless reasons why the Lakers haven’t played up to their potential, but when it is distilled down to the basics team chemistry – or lack thereof – is without a doubt a major factor contributing to the team’s underachieving.  In sports, team chemistry is a fascinating concept to study for sport psychologists, as there is no one “cook-book way” to successfully integrate delicate personalities within a team.  In LA, there has already been finger pointing between Bryant and Howard, illustrating that the team is far from being a well-oiled machine.

In fact, when thinking about team chemistry one way to look at it is how you might go about making a pot of chilli and the number of hot peppers to add.  Too few peppers and the chilli is bland, too many and it ruins an otherwise tasty chilli.  Team chemistry in sports in similar in the sense of vocal leader personalities, compliant and motivated followers, and coaches who are willing and interested in balancing the various personalities.  When you get it right it usually leads to championships, but when you miss, well, check out the Lakers to see what I mean.

When players know and accept their roles team chemistry improves accordingly — in fact, in these situations players usually increase their mental toughness and actually perform over what they are supposed to “on paper.”  Similarly, when players don’t buy into the team concept, otherwise talented players lose their focus and mental toughness and play below their abilities as a result.  In Los Angeles, the team chemistry certainly looks “off” as both Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard have been vocally critical of the team lately, prompting fans to wonder just how long this team will stay together?

Team chemistry in sports is not just something pro coaches deal with, as it is a similar challenge for countless youth and interscholastic coaches, too.  If you are a coach and have wondered about why your team is performing below what you thought, you might want to dedicate time toward ideas for increasing team chemistry so that your team can over-achieve rather than play below what it is capable of playing.

www.drstankovich.com

 

Become a great coach by learning about team chemistry — our Coach Toolkit will help you get started!

 

bryant, chemistry, dwight, howard, kobe, lakers, mental toughness, psychology, sport, team

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Latest Blog Posts

  • March 1, 2021 Important Team Building Success Tips for Coaches
  • February 16, 2021 Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • February 10, 2021 Is Mark Cuban’s Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • February 4, 2021 Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • February 1, 2021 Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic

Comments are closed.

PREVIOUS POST

If You Thought Manti Teo’s Story was a Stretch, You were Right

NEXT POST

The NFL, Head Traumas, and Lacking Sport Psychology Services

Category

Amateur , Athletes , Athletic Counseling , Coaching , College , Mental Toughness , Performance Enhancement , Prep , Pro , Sport Psychology , Sports Leadership , Sports Performance Science , Team Building , Team Chemistry , Team Cohesion , Uncategorized

Tags

bryant, chemistry, dwight, howard, kobe, lakers, mental toughness, psychology, sport, team

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Important Team Building Success Tips for Coaches
  • Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • Is Mark Cuban's Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • Parent Sports Pressure Can Leave Kids with Overwhelming Expectations
  • Overcome Adversity by Using this Important Mental Toughness Strategy
  • Challenges Endure for Student Athletes Managing Pandemic Stress & Related Concerns
  • Maximize the Strength of Your Team through Care, Concern, & Compassion
  • Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2021 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓