Winning the respect of your teammates

I’ve started playing pickup soccer on Sundays. At first I was new to the team and honestly did not play too well the first Sunday. This Sunday I played better, communicated more, and was a better member of the team.

We naturally want to earn the approval of other people in our community. In an organized game, especially, there’s a certain joy from winning the respect of your teammates.

In a game, the rules and your job are well-defined. Unlike everyday relationships in work, personal, etc. that can sometimes be political or nebulous, in the context of a game it is more clear how to do your part to make progress toward a common goal.