The Rhythm of the Dance

Abstract

In a previous chapter, I wrote about the need for unspoken communication in team sports. This is particularly true for sports that are often free-flowing such as basketball, soccer, and ultimate Frisbee. The fast pace and relative uncertainty of where the ball or disc will be moving creates a need for a system of signals that move just as quickly. Players often speak of chemistry when they work together cohesively as opposed to a group of individuals. The chemistry has nothing to do with the sport but everything to do with the ability to predict a teammate’s future action from understated movement of a teammate’s arms and legs or even a head nod. When these teams have good chemistry or are in sync, the fluidity of game approaches that of a world class ballet. When this is missing, the ballet will have the cohesiveness of a grade school production.