Level: DRA: Social Studies Strategy: Word Count: Build Vocabulary Online Leveled Books HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

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1 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

2 by James Anthony PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: Cover Corbis; 1 Tore Bergsaker / Sygma / Corbis; 2 PhotoDisc_Sporting Goods; 3 Jim Cummins; 4 Bettmann / Corbis; 5, 7, 13 (inset) Photodisc; 6 Jeff Kaufman; 9 Bettmann / Corbis; 10 Comstock; 11 Tore Bergsaker / Sygma / Corbis; 12 Photodisc; 14 Corbis; Tab Shutterstock Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be addressed to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers, Attn: Permissions, 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida Printed in China ISBN-13: ISBN-10: If you have received these materials as examination copies free of charge, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers retains title to the materials and they may not be resold. Resale of examination copies is strictly prohibited. Possession of this publication in print format does not entitle users to convert this publication, or any portion of it, into electronic format.

3 Table of Contents Individual vs. Team Competition Early Team Sports Modern Team Sports There s No I in Team A Closer Look at Successful Teams Teamwork Off the Playing Field What s Your Score? (Quiz)

4 A team with a star player is a good team, but a team without one is a great team. Unknown Individual vs. Team Competition Athletic competition has been around for hundreds of years, even before the ancient Olympics in Greece. Athletes throughout history have participated in games and contests. Much of the time, individuals competed for fame and glory. Who could run the fastest? Throw a ball the farthest? Jump the highest? Lift the heaviest object? The concept of teamwork is a more modern idea. Rather than competing one on one, athletes form teams and have to work as a group. Good teamwork is about making choices. Players must choose what is good for the group over individual glory. Teamwork is not always easy, but it is essential to success both on and off the playing field. 3

5 Early Team Sports In ancient times, sports were used to teach young men how to become warriors. Boys competed in archery and wrestling contests. The winners were marked as future leaders and fighters. These contests allowed young men to prove that they had the mental and physical skills needed for manhood and for battle. Native Americans also used sports to train young men for combat. North American Indians played an early form of lacrosse. The Cherokee called their version of the game little brother of war. As many as a thousand people might have played on each side. These phenomenal games could last for three days. Players often got hurt. But again, it was practice for war. An early form of lacrosse 4

6 Other early team sports were also violent. One early version of soccer in the British Isles involved entire villages and few rules. Kicking other players was allowed. Brute strength was valued above teamwork. For female players in the past, sports were mostly off-limits. They could only play noncompetitive games. This was meant to prepare them for running a home and raising a family. The thinking then was that sports weren t for girls! The Oldest Team Sport The first team sport in history was likely played by people who lived in ancient Mesoamerica (present-day Mexico). Two teams had between two and six players. The goal was to move a solid rubber ball past a goal line or through a hoop. The players could not touch the ball with their hands or feet, and the ball was not allowed to touch the ground. The showdown could mean life or death. At times, the losing players were offered as a sacrifice to their gods. 5

7 Modern Team Sports It wasn t until the 1800s that rules for soccer, football, and baseball became official. Teams all over the world now played by the same rules. Team sports grew more popular as people had more free time. Sports pages started to appear in newspapers. Fans began to show loyalty to teams, rather than to individual players. During the 1900s, the popularity of team sports grew fast in America. A winat-all-costs attitude came to rule team sports. Some people worried that players and fans were being brainwashed. Should players be taught to win at all costs? Why were fans becoming violent if their team lost? To many people, good sportsmanship was being forgotten. Teamwork seemed not to matter now. Basketball takes teamwork. 6

8 Today, winning is still the general goal of most team sports. But winning isn t the only thing that is important. Good sportsmanship and teamwork are now seen as the best ways to achieve success. Many coaches today do more than teach fundamental skills of the game. They also teach the skills of being a team player. Sometimes, coaches make teamwork their primary goal. This often results in the team winning more games. Plus, the players and coaches usually have more fun. Rules of Good Sportsmanship No cheating. Don t lose your temper. Avoid negative comments of teammates, coaches, referees, and opposing players. Don t berate yourself or your teammates for mistakes. No taunting or trash talk. Don t show off or gloat. Don t argue with the referees calls. Always congratulate the opposing team for a game well-played. 7

9 There s No I in Team So, what exactly is teamwork? And why is it so important? Let s look at what goes into teamwork in the chart below. What Makes a Team Player? Reliability Team players show up for every practice. They can always be counted on. Enthusiasm Good team players truly enjoy the game, and it shows. They like to compete. Hard Work Team players work hard to improve their skills. It makes the team stronger. Respect A team player treats everyone with respect a star player, a benchwarmer, or an opponent. Sportsmanship A true team player is a good sport. He or she plays by the rules and behaves well. Self-Sacrifice A team player does what is best for the team, even if it means giving up individual glory. 8

10 A Closer Look at Successful Teams Defining team success can be a bit tricky. Does a team have to win every game to be considered successful? Does how well a team works together make it a success? Read about two sports teams from U.S. history and decide for yourself. The 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers had been nicknamed Dem Bums. This is because they lost so many baseball games. They won only one World Series in their long history. In 1947, the Dodgers lost the World Series. Yet, the 1947 Dodgers might be the most important team in U.S. sports history. They were the first Major League team with an African American player. He was Jackie Robinson. Baseball has been called America s favorite sport. Before 1947, however, old rules lingered. Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers 9

11 Rules kept African American players out of the Major Leagues. Many Americans thought these rules were fair. They thought that blacks and whites couldn t or shouldn t work as a team. The heroic Robinson and the Dodgers changed this way of thinking. They had broken the color barrier in pro baseball. They had changed history. The 1999 Women s World Cup Championship In 1999, the Women s World Cup championship was played in the United States. The U.S. women s team was one of the favorites to win. The other favorite was China. The two teams met in the finals. A reserve on the U.S. team kicked the winning goal. With dramatic flair, the U.S. team had won the world title. What could be more important than winning a world title? Perhaps it was the growth of women s soccer that followed. The players on the U.S. team became famous. They were respected for their playing skills. But they were also admired for their teamwork. The players became role models for many children. More girls began playing soccer than ever before. 10

12 The U.S. team won the 1999 Women s World Cup. Teamwork Off the Playing Field Teamwork is important in many other areas of life besides sports. Teachers emphasize teamwork in their classrooms. Business leaders want their employees to work well together, so the company can savor success. Even a family is a team, and the parents are coaches. Working in harmony with friends, family, classmates, and co-workers can help us reach our goals faster. On the next page is a list of ways you can be a good team player off the playing field. 11

13 Teamwork Skills for Off the Field Communicate A good team member can clearly express his or her ideas to others in a respectful way. Listen Teams need people who can understand and consider other ideas. Participate Good team players are active. They do not make other people do all the work. Solve Problems Teams almost always have problems, so members should be problem solvers. Be Flexible Strong team members can deal with changes easily. They don t complain or let stress get to them. 12

14 What s Your Score? How do you rate as a team player? Take the quiz below. Then score your answers, using the answer key on the next page. (Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.) Always Sometimes Never 1. Do you show up for practice on time? 2. Do you practice with enthusiasm and give your best effort? 3. Do you follow the rules for your team and sport? 4. Do you volunteer to help your teammates improve their skills? 5. Do you improve your skills by practicing them on your own? 6. Do you keep a positive attitude and encourage your teammates? 7. Are you doing whatever you can to help your team reach its goals? 13

15 Answer Key Each time you answered Always, score 3 points; for each Sometimes, score 2 points; for each Never, score 1 point. What Your Score Means 19 to 21 points: Score! You re a dependable team player! Now challenge yourself: What can I do to become an even better teammate? 16 to 18 points: On the Field. You re on your way to being a dependable team player. Now challenge yourself: What can I do to help make my team even better? 15 points or under: On the Sidelines. At times, you may be a good team player, but what about those other times? Talk with a trusted adult, such as a coach, about how you can improve. 14

16 Responding TARGET VOCABULARY Word Builder Showdown is a compound word. Copy the word web below and add compound words that relate to teamwork. friendship? teamwork?? Write About It Text to Self Review the chart listing qualities of a team player on Page 8. Then write a paragraph explaining which quality you think is most important. Use two words from the Word Builder. 15

17 TARGET VOCABULARY berate brainwashed flair fundamental gloat lingered phenomenal reserve savor showdown TARGET STRATEGY Analyze/Evaluate Think carefully about the text and form an opinion about it. Which vocabulary word tells what a tennis player has to do if he or she hits the ball into the net? 16

18 Level: S DRA: 40 Social Studies Strategy: Analyze/Evaluate Word Count: 1, Build Vocabulary HOUGHTON MIFFLIN Online Leveled Books