"Team, Teammate, Self"

Happy Mothers' Day to the women who make every day special. 

As you progress through sports and life, develop a philosophy using the best principles and examples you experience and discover. In The Art of Winning, Coach Bill Belichick discusses Admiral Tom Lynch and "Team, Teammate, Self."

Adolescents often show "egocentric behavior" as in "what's in it for me?" Maturity changes that as people have responsibilities to families, careers, and community.

MVB has always valued team and Coach Scott Celli and his staff make decisions in the best interest of the team. That can cause distress as players become disappointed or disillusioned with their minutes, role, and recognition.

You may remember the Coach Auriemma video where he discusses shot selection. If not...  

"The wrong guy is taking the wrong shot." Know what is a "good shot" for you and your teammates. And prioritize "Team, teammate, self." 

Here's the ChatGPT elaboration...

Navy Admiral Tom Lynch is widely credited with helping popularize the leadership and cultural philosophy known as "Team, Teammate, Self." This framework, rooted in military and athletic environments—especially the U.S. Naval Academy—is a simple but powerful hierarchy for decision-making and prioritization that reinforces selflessness, discipline, and cohesion.

Who is Admiral Tom Lynch?

Admiral Thomas C. Lynch is a retired United States Navy Admiral who served as Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy from 1991 to 1994. A former football player at Navy, Lynch earned respect for his leadership, character, and deep understanding of the culture and values of service academies. His tenure at Annapolis was marked by a renewed focus on honor, discipline, and team identity—especially in athletics and the broader development of midshipmen.

The Philosophy: Team, Teammate, Self

At its core, "Team, Teammate, Self" is a prioritization mindset that teaches individuals to subordinate their personal needs to the success of the group. It’s a simple ranking:

1. Team – The mission, the unit, the institution.

2. Teammate – Those beside you; your peers and partners.

3. Self – Your own needs and recognition.

This ordering builds selfless leadership and reinforces a culture where each person plays for something larger than themselves.

Application

1. Military: In the Navy, as in any branch of the armed forces, unit cohesion and collective mission success are paramount. This mindset ensures that each sailor or officer is grounded in a shared sense of duty.

2. Sports: The concept is heavily used in programs like Navy Football, where players are reminded that success comes from sacrificing personal glory for the success of the team. Coaches use it to build accountable and resilient team cultures.

3. Life and Leadership: Outside the military and sports, the "Team, Teammate, Self" model is a useful touchstone for leadership decisions—asking yourself whether your actions put the group first, support others, and only then address your own needs.

Lynch’s Impact

Lynch didn’t invent the idea, but his leadership helped institutionalize it at Navy. He embodied the values in how he led and mentored others. Since then, the concept has become part of the Academy’s leadership curriculum and is frequently cited by Navy athletes, officers, and leaders across domains as a grounding principle.

Lagniappe. MVB success is nothing new. Clips from sectionals in 2007. 

"Melrose traveled to Andover's Dunn Gymnasium for the fifth consecutive season. After being knocked out for the past three seasons by Melrose, Central had more answers. Melrose is proud of the Lady Raiders accomplishments, with their five year overall regular season record of 106-13, including 22-1 this season. Melrose, like Central, returns four sophomore starters for 2008."