Ramsey Gives Speech About Being Great TeammateAs the keynote speaker, national champion women’s basketball coach Sue Ramsey spoke on what it takes to be a great teammate at the NCCAA Tournament banquet Tuesday night. Ramsey led the Ashland University Lady Eagles to an NCAA Division II national title in 2013, which came on the heels of a runner-up finish in 2012. That same year, Ramsey was named the 2012 conference, regional and NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year and was inducted into Miami University's prestigious Cradle of Coaches. “Great teams have great teammates,” she said. “God created us as people who need people. Even Jesus had his team, though one transferred out.” The elements to being a great teammate, according Ramsey, are core values, knowing your role, being intentional with communication, physical and mental effort and a positive attitude. Grace College is hosting the NCCAA Division I National Championships this week. There are 16 teams – eight men’s squads, eight women’s teams – in Winona Lake to play for the title. Ramsey encouraged the coaches and players in the tournament to commit their core values to writing, and keep them where they can be seen often. “Know them, live them, reinforce them, and hold each other accountable for them,” she said. Ramsey said each team member is essential, and while everyone wants playing time, it’s important for one to recognize the role on the team. “Imagine putting together a 1,000-piece puzzle, and the last piece is missing,” she said. You’ve put in all this effort, and it’s not complete.” She also told the players if they aren’t happy with their playing time, the options are to “either accept conditions as they are or accept the responsibility to change it.” Ramsey also quoted George Bernard Shaw; “the single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it’s taken place.” She said it was vital for great teammates to be more intentional about communication. Ramsey encouraged more communication with God, saying that prayer can take two forms; the 30-second timeout and a full timeout. “You can use the 30-second timeout to get your focus back where it needs to be, and the full timeout to really communicate what’s on your heart. “Never underestimate the power of prayer.” A key to mental and physical effort is a positive, energetic and consistent attitude, Ramsey said. She said one of her pet peeves was moody coaches. “People on the team aren’t thinking about the practice or the game. They’re wondering what kind of mood the coach is in.” she said. “That takes away from the task at hand.” She said being humble and hungry for success are not mutually exclusive. “Jesus was the most humble servant ever, and yet he was hungry to get his message out to the people. He still is,” Ramsey said. In her closing remarks, the coach asked the players in attendance “do you want to be remembered as the best three-point shooter on the team, or maybe the best rebounder, or do you want to be remembered as the best teammate?” The NCCAA National Basketball championships opened this morning, and run through Saturday at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center in Winona Lake.
