If you are a member of any team such as a varsity team, a club sport team, a high school sport team, a chess team, a mathlete team, or any kind of team, then you know what the experience is like, and you also know about the inevitable friendships that are going to be made when you're constantly put in a group of people who have the same interests and goals as you.
At first, it's weird because all of a sudden you join a team and you're surrounded by all these people who want the same things as you. After that, making friends is easy as pie. Because you may be traveling with your team often, especially for sports, there is hardly any time to be alone when you are part of a team, and your friendships with your teammates only become closer. Soon enough, you realize that even when you're away from practice, or a competition, you still want to surround yourself with certain members of your team, if not all of your team.
Being part of a team is almost like being put into a direct group of friends that you will be able to count on for as long as you're on the team, and longer. As a Division 1 tennis player, I spend countless hours with my teammates at practices, team dinners, team bonding, driving/flying for competition, and I can honestly say that I have made the best of friends with my teammates. Speaking from experience, here are some things that happen when your teammates double as your best friends.
1. Practice Is Like A Hangout Session.
If your team is anything like mine, then you know that practice is just another opportunity to gossip and catch up with your best friends. Unfortunately, this also means extra running for talking too much and not focusing on the practice at hand - but you can't help it because when you're with your best friends, it's second nature to talk and talk and talk some more!
2. Nobody Has A Real Name.
Whether it's an inside joke, or just something funny, your teammates probably call you by something other than your real name. Marissa turns into "Dog" and Courtney turns into "Whitney" for reasons that no one can remember.
3. You Get Annoyed With Them.
After all, best friend fight, right? But you still love them, and although you might WANT to go a day or two without speaking to them, it's hard when you see them for most of your days and are forced to converse with them.
4. You Know Them Like The Back Of Your Hand.
Because you spend so much time with your team, you know your teammates like the back of your hand. You can tell when something is wrong, and also when something is going great. You understand their tone of voice, and you also know that some of them are not morning people, so you wait until midday to talk to them.
5. Their Business Is Your Business.
Sure it's their life, and their decision, but as a best friend and teammate, you make sure that you know every little detail there is to know about their personal life so that way you can give them the best possible advice.
6. You Defend Each Other.
Whether your coach is ganging up on you, or something else is making your teammate feel attacked, you're always there for them and defending them, because you know that if you were in the same situation, you'd want that teammate to do the same.
7. Win Together, Lose Together.
If it's a sports team that you're on, then there's no single person to blame for a loss - or a win. No matter what, you're a team, and as cheesy as it is, There is no 'I' in team. So whether you win, or you lose, you love your teammates the same!
8. You Become Each Other.
Soon enough, you catch yourself dressing, talking, and listening to the same music as your teammates/best friends, which makes it even easier for you all to get along.
9. You Tell Them The Truth.
Friendship is based on truth and trust, and you know that your teammate will understand if you call them out on something because it's only going to make your friendship with them stronger. If they are a true friend, they won't get mad or defensive, but instead, they will truly listen to whatever it is you have to say.
10. You Love Them.
At the end of the day, these people are your teammates, and your friends and no matter what, you absolutely love them to death. No matter the fights or the drama that occurs, you can't help but think about everything they've done to support you, and you learn to love them no matter what.
I love being part of a team, and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart that my teammates have become some of my best friends. I know that when college is over, and I'm not part of the team anymore, I will always be able to reach out to a few of them, and know that they will always be there.
