As the old saying goes, "There is no 'I' in TEAM." Look at the New York Yankees, the 2004 USA Olympic basketball team, and countless other teams throughout history. They were going to dominate their sport because they had the best and greatest players assembled together at one time. What happened? They tried to spell the word as, "I-T-I-E-I-A-I-M-I." Too many individuals dominating and breaking up the team. It just doesn't work. This is one case where the "I's" don't have it.

The same thing happens in bowling with the same result. I have seen many teams enter leagues with all the highest average bowlers they could muster up; yet, a lower average team manages to walk away with 1st place. More often than not, it is a group of guys or women who have been bowling together for many years and they all get along great. Their averages may fall in the mediocre (whatever "mediocre" is) ranges and they may not get together outside of league bowling; but, during league (or tournament) competition, they just seem to have fun and win games and matches.

Whenever I have pulled people together, be they doubles, trios, foursomes, or five-person teams, I always look to personality above all. I only look to their average if it is a prerequisite for the formation of a team - that is, the maximum total team average cannot exceed a certain number. Of course, there have been times when the person I asked happened to be a high average bowler anyway, but, again, that was not my first priority. In any event, my personally formed teams have always managed to place in the top 10% of entries and therefore, received prizes (cash, awards, and/or trophies).

There are basically three things you should keep in mind when you are out there getting a group of men and/or women together to form a team: personality, compatibility, and longevity. Personality so they'll get along with you, compatibility so they'll get along well with others on the team, and longevity so that they'll stay with the team over many years as long as they can.

Trust your inner instinct and it will tell you who to ask to bowl on your team. You have a basic character and personality and that is what causes you to be attracted to certain people. Keep in mind that you will enjoy bowling much more if you are in good company and are having a good time. If you happen to win, that's all the more enjoyable.

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)