Many teams will tell you, "We're a serious team". Great. Cool. Fantastic... but just what the heck does that mean? If it means that you practice 3 out of every 4 weeks in a month, great. If it means you drill the fundamentals often during those 3 out of every 4 weeks, cool. If it means you travel out of state to scrimmage higher divisional teams with a winning lineage, fantastic. If you do all these things (and others) then, in my mind, you ARE a serious team. You obviously have the drive and resources it takes to get better, become competitive and win.
Pr1me does this. Now, before anyone starts casting "internet stones" and asking who we think we are, allow me to explain why I say this: We are a serious team. (See how I did that?)
Team PR1ME scrimmaging in Macon, GA
In order to improve in this sport, a team must have the willingness to learn. This is not as simple as it sounds. The TEAM must have a willingness to learn each other and learn together. And here's the kicker that most of you are all too familiar with: Getting better/learning is expensive and time consuming. Not only is it financially difficult with having to purchase paint, field fees etc... To do that often can put quite the strain on team member’s disposable income (especially in our current economic environment). However, if a team is serious about being competitive and winning, then this is the first hurdle that must be met. The next would be availability. I am married, the father of three children and work a full time professional job. Other members of Pr1me are college students with part time jobs or high school students with other responsibilities. Finding time or having the capability to schedule time off in order to practice, much less compete, is difficult. We won't even get into time with loved ones.
Before you think this is going to be another, "How to get sponsored" tutorial or "10 steps to be a better team player" list, let me assure you, it is not. This is simply a blog by Team Pr1me. It is our story and if you learn something from it and it helps you or gives you an idea, terrific. We have succeeded in accomplishing one of the goals we set through this medium.
Pr1me has taken many steps to make it affordable for its members while trying to create an environment for winning. Not everyone can have a private regulation size X-ball field to practice on. Not everyone can have relationships that make paint accessible and affordable. And certainly, not everyone can have such good friends that are bonified Champions in the sport to assist, train, coach and guide. This is not me bragging about what we have. As a matter of fact, it couldn't be further from that. All of this is a culmination of financial stability, patience, well thought out negotiations, intelligent decisions and plain blessings from God over the past 8 years. That's right. 8 years! If anything, it is a testament to the ingenuity and drive of this team’s captain. The willingness to learn, to make hard decisions, to set goals and reach them through perseverance, blood, sweat and tears.
When I started writing this, I thought about how I was going to tell a quick story about what it took to get us through the first year. Instead, (as I often have throughout the first year of this teams existence) I have found myself thinking about my teammates and how inspired I am each and every day by their commitment to each other and our common goal of being the best we can. I genuinely like and trust each and every member of this team and that is rare to find today. That is what will make a team successful and I guess that is the point I want to make. If you find yourself lucky enough to find that ensemble of players who not only get along but compliment each other's playing style and on top of all that, are all willing to learn together and get better together, well, then... you have found yourself a "serious team".
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