Sun Tzu's Advice On Leading Your Intramural Sports Team To Success

Every college intramural sports athlete wants to dominate their league. Listen to some advice from ancient military strategist Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" on how to lead your team to a strong performance this season.

1. Choose a captain that will bring the team together and lead them.

The Simpsons on FXX / Via simpsonsworld.com

"If the officers are angry and insubordinate, doing battle with the enemy under anger and insubordination, and the general does not know their abilities, this is called collapse. If the general is weak and not disciplined, his instructions not clear, the officers and troops lack discipline and their formation in disarray, this is called chaos."

(Sun Tzu, 10.12-10.13)

2. Practice makes perfect.

GIPHY / Via giphy.com

"Those skilled in warfare can make themselves invincible, but cannot necessarily cause the enemy to be vulnerable. Therefore it is said one may know how to win but cannot necessarily do it."

(Sun Tzu, 04.02)

3. Come prepared with a playbook.

Mavs Moneyball / Via mavsmoneyball.com

"Therefore I say: One who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be in danger in a hundred battles. One who does not know the enemy but knows himself will sometimes win, sometimes lose. One who does not know the enemy and does not know himself will be in danger in every battle."

(Sun Tzu, 03.23-03.24)

4. A team cannot win without excellent communication.

Reddit / Via reddit.com

"Generally, commanding many is like commanding a few. It is a matter of dividing them into groups. Doing battle with a large army is like doing battle with a small army. It is a matter of communications through flags and pennants."

(Sun Tzu, 05.01)

5. Play with aggression, fire, and passion.

GIPHY / Via giphy.com

"When weapons are blunted and ferocity diminished, strength exhausted and resources depleted, the neighboring rulers will take advantage of these complications."

(Sun Tzu, 02.06)

6. Know your opponents strengths and weaknesses.

The Simpsons on FXX / Via simpsonsworld.com

"Therefore, if the enemy prepares to defend the front, the back will be weak. If he prepares to defend the back, the front will be weak. If he prepares to defend the left, the right will be weak. If he prepares to defend the right, the left will be weak. If he prepares to defend everywhere, everywhere will be weak."

(Sun Tzu, 06.18)

7. Manage how you conserve your energy and take advantage of your opponent when their energy is low.

ALL THINGS MICHAEL / Via vallieegirl67.com

"The energy of the army can be dampened, and the general's mind can be dampened. Therefore, in the morning, energy is high, but during the day energy begins to flag; and in the evening, energy is exhausted. Therefore, those skilled in the use of force avoid [the enemy's] high energy, and strike when energy is exhausted. This is the way to manage energy."

(Sun Tzu, 07.20-07.21)

8. Vary your play calls.

YouTube / Via youtube.com

"In battle, there are no more than two types of attacks: Common and uncommon, yet the variations of the common and uncommon cannot all be anticipated."

(Sun Tzu, 05.06)

9. When you choose a play, choose one that will set you up for the play you desire to call next. Always stay 2 steps ahead.

Tumblr / Via tumblr.com

"Therefore, the enlightened ruler is prudent, the good general is cautious. This is the Way of securing the nation, and preserving the army."

(Sun Tzu, 12.13)

10. Try a trick play and deceive your opponent.

Comedy Central / Via commedycentral.com

"Warfare is the Way of deception. Therefore, if able, appear unable; if active, appear inactive; if near, appear far; if far, appear near."

(Sun Tzu, 01.13-01.14)

11. Know your opponents tendencies.

GIPHY / Via giphy.com

"Therefore I say, if you know the enemy and know yourself, the victory is not at risk. If you know the Heaven and you know the Ground, the victory is complete."

(Sun Tzu, 10.25)

12. If your team is overmatched, call a timeout, regroup, and rejuvenate.

SB Nation / Via sbnation.com

"If it is advantageous, move; if it is not advantageous, stop."

(Sun Tzu, 12.11)

13. Make sure your team adapts to the opponent.

Cheezburger / Via cheezburger.com

"Do not advance on any fixed day or time; calculate and adapt to the enemy to determine the matter of doing battle. Therefore, be like a maiden; once the enemy opens the door, be like a scurrying hare. The enemy will be unable to prevail."

(Sun Tzu, 11.71-11.72)

14. Beat your opponent in the mental game.

Tumblr / Via tumblr.com

"Therefore, to achieve a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence; to subjugate the enemy's army without doing battle is the highest of excellence. Therefore, the best warfare strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, next is to attack alliances, next is to attack the army, and the worst is to attack a walled city."

(Sun Tzu, 03.02-03.03)

15. Be a good sport. Nobody likes poor sportsmanship.

GIPHY / Via giphy.com

"Do not thwart an enemy retreating home. If you surround the enemy, leave an outlet; do not press an enemy that is cornered. These are the principles of warfare."

(Sun Tzu, 07.26)

16. Believe in your teammates and yourself.

Reddit / Via reddit.com

"One who does not know the enemy but knows himself will sometimes win, sometimes lose. One who does not know the enemy and does not know himself will be in danger in every battle."

(Sun Tzu, 03.24)

Tzu, Sun. "Original The Art of War Translation (not Giles)." Sonshi® - Educational Resource for Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Sonshi Group, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2016.