With two games remaining, my daughter’s soccer team is in second place. They’ve won nine games and lost one to the third place side which—while not as talented—understands that successful passing leads to more goals than successful dribbling or individuality. In other words, they play as a team more than my daughter’s side.

That same team has likely dropped more games than the three and a half players that impressively carry my daughter’s club because playing as a team for every game is difficult to achieve. It’s easier for great players to show up to every game than a reliable team.

In any case, my daughter’s “club” will square off against the first place team this weekend, and I suspect they’ll lose unless they listen to Michael Jordan: “Talent wins games, teamwork wins championships.”

To inspire more passing, teamwork, and selflessness, I hope they’ll consider my favorite quotes on teamwork as much as you might. They are as follows: 

10. Team stands for Together Everyone Achieves More.—Author Unknown. In other words, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Does anyone dispute this?

9. A man may do an immense deal of good, if he does not care who gets the credit.—Father Strickland. Teamwork requires humility. And you can’t have teamwork if one, some, or all hope for individual glory.

8. A single leaf working alone provides no shade.—Chuck Page. A clever way of saying “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

7. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.—Author Unknown. Once you have a working team, the best way to refine and improve it is by encouraging the most fragile contributor.

6. A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself to praise the skills of the others.—Norman Shidle. This enables no. 7.

5. Teamwork makes the dream work.—Bang Gae. Regardless if the dream is increasing the chances of winning a single game or winning it all, teamwork enables that dream.

4. A snowflake is one of God’s most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!—Author Unknown. In other words, beautiful things happen when you play as a team. Like this.

3. None of us is as smart as all of us.—Ken Blanchard. True.

2. Many hands make light work.—John Heywood. Classic.

1. Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.—Kenyan proverb. Perfect.