--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd never played on a team until high…" description: "\"I'd never played on a team until high school. It gave me a sense of belonging, a focus, and helped build my confidence. I liked the feeling of accompli..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/howie-long-5163_confidence_i-d-never-played-on-a-team-until-high-sc_821880.png" --- # I'd never played on a team until high school. It gave me a… ![“I'd never played on a team until high school. It gave me a sense of belonging, a focus, and helped build my confidence. I liked the feeling of accomplishment and the respect. Sports ideally teach discipline and commitment. They challenge you and build character for everything you do in life.” quote by Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/howie-long-5163_confidence_i-d-never-played-on-a-team-until-high-sc_821880.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/howie-long-5163_confidence_i-d-never-played-on-a-team-until-high-sc_821880.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/howie-long-5163_confidence_i-d-never-played-on-a-team-until-high-sc_821880.png) > “I'd never played on a team until high school. It gave me a sense of belonging, a focus, and helped build my confidence. I liked the feeling of accomplishment and the respect. Sports ideally teach discipline and commitment. They challenge you and build character for everything you do in life.” [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Team sports provide belonging, focus, confidence, discipline, and character that translate to life. **In simple terms:** Sports teach belonging, focus, confidence, and discipline. Key Takeaway Join a team to build confidence. Themes belonging confidence discipline Mood motivational proud Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - school - corporate team building - youth mentorship Key Concepts Team dynamics personal development Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer team or individual activities? - How does teamwork shape your identity? A Different Perspective Not everyone thrives in team settings; some prefer individual pursuits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Sense Of Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-belonging/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [Sports ideally teach discipline and commitment. They challenge you and build character for everything you do in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/sports-ideally-teach-discipline-and-commitment-they-challenge-you-and/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [It's a little bit different to than U.S. in Japan. U.S. has a lot of respect for the sports, but not as much in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/it-s-a-little-bit-different-to-than-u-s-in-japan-u-s-has-a-lot-of/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I have a lot of respect for all the sports, but one sport that I look at as being a little out there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-pastrana/i-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-all-the-sports-but-one-sport-that-i-look/) [Travis Pastrana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-pastrana/) > [Having played for Team Canada on several occasions, I know it's always fun to get together with your fellow countrymen and guys you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/having-played-for-team-canada-on-several-occasions-i-know-it-s-always/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [I'm a team player. I've, you know, played team sports my whole life, at least as a kid. And I believe that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-m-a-team-player-i-ve-you-know-played-team-sports-my-whole-life-at/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [I've had broken fingers and still played for Team Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-ve-had-broken-fingers-and-still-played-for-team-canada/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [There'd be days in high school where I thought I played well, my team got the win, and I'd go to the gym still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-brunson/there-d-be-days-in-high-school-where-i-thought-i-played-well-my-team/) [Jalen Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-brunson/) > [At Valencia I was playing a high level every week and I improved a lot. I was under pressure in a good way, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-pereira/at-valencia-i-was-playing-a-high-level-every-week-and-i-improved-a/) [Andreas Pereira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-pereira/) > [I played team sports, but I never felt like I fitted in that well, so this allowed me to be part of a community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hawk/i-played-team-sports-but-i-never-felt-like-i-fitted-in-that-well-so/) [Tony Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hawk/) > [Before Bolton I played for Real Madrid and I was getting involved in the first-team training since I was 16 and then I played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-alonso/before-bolton-i-played-for-real-madrid-and-i-was-getting-involved-in/) [Marcos Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-alonso/) > [I love representing the country. I played for Team U.S.A. after my freshman year in college. We went to Cuba and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-crawford/i-love-representing-the-country-i-played-for-team-u-s-a-after-my/) [Brandon Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-crawford/) > [Everybody likes to look at the end goal, but when you sit back and reflect, I played on Team U.S.A. That's incredible for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/everybody-likes-to-look-at-the-end-goal-but-when-you-sit-back-and/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [At Maccabi, I played with a team that scored many goals and I was the dominant player, but that's not the case with Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eran-zahavi/at-maccabi-i-played-with-a-team-that-scored-many-goals-and-i-was-the/) [Eran Zahavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eran-zahavi/) > [Chris Paul is a guy I can talk to about different stuff, especially when I played on his team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-sexton/chris-paul-is-a-guy-i-can-talk-to-about-different-stuff-especially/) [Collin Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-sexton/) > [I wish I had played team sports. I think every kid should. Teamwork builds character - teaches people about leadership and cooperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-rocca/i-wish-i-had-played-team-sports-i-think-every-kid-should-teamwork/) [Mo Rocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-rocca/) ## More by Howie Long > [I looked at Randy White... I looked at Klecko. I looked at Gino Marchetti. I looked at a lot of players. Bob Lilly. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-looked-at-randy-white-i-looked-at-klecko-i-looked-at-gino-marchetti/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [As a broadcaster, I've always taken the approach that I want to be informed. I want to understand. It's easy to mail it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/as-a-broadcaster-i-ve-always-taken-the-approach-that-i-want-to-be/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [There is no easy way to greatness in any venue. But if you work hard, good things will inevitably happen to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/there-is-no-easy-way-to-greatness-in-any-venue-but-if-you-work-hard/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [My poor wife, we stopped on the way back to the suite after our wedding reception so I could pick up a jar of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/my-poor-wife-we-stopped-on-the-way-back-to-the-suite-after-our/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [Professional athletes, like it or not, have a responsibility to the kids of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/professional-athletes-like-it-or-not-have-a-responsibility-to-the/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [My grandmother is the type of person, I'd be down playing cards in the park, and she'd take the dog and walk down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/my-grandmother-is-the-type-of-person-i-d-be-down-playing-cards-in-the/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [I really enjoy my time in Montana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-really-enjoy-my-time-in-montana/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [I have this dying desire to be on top. I'm paranoid about it. It's almost a sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-have-this-dying-desire-to-be-on-top-i-m-paranoid-about-it-it-s/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [For a while here in L.A., we had a problem with the wave. They didn't quite know when to wave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/for-a-while-here-in-l-a-we-had-a-problem-with-the-wave-they-didn-t/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [I had a mental block. I didn't think I could be successful at right end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-had-a-mental-block-i-didn-t-think-i-could-be-successful-at-right-end/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [I'm never one to question people's courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-m-never-one-to-question-people-s-courage/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [I like John Riggins. He's one of the guys I look up to. He doesn't try to change his act to suit his profession.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-like-john-riggins-he-s-one-of-the-guys-i-look-up-to-he-doesn-t-try/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [Lack of enthusiasm in the stands tends to be less inspirational on the field. It doesn't send the chills down your spine. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/lack-of-enthusiasm-in-the-stands-tends-to-be-less-inspirational-on/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [The Raiders hit straight up. And thats the way we expect to get hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/the-raiders-hit-straight-up-and-thats-the-way-we-expect-to-get-hit/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [I just play hard-hitting football, but at least I look the opponent in the face before I hit him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-just-play-hard-hitting-football-but-at-least-i-look-the-opponent-in/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) [Explore all 103 Howie Long quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd never played on a team until high school. It gave me a sense of belonging, a focus, and helped build my confidence. I liked the feeling of accomplishment and the respect. Sports ideally teach discipline and commitment. 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