Playing with others is something we have all been doing since early grade school. Helping others and sharing our things just makes us feel good sometimes. Today, we're going to apply those same ideas to Rocket League. Being a good teammate doesn't just mean being the guy who usually scores the most goals. In fact, the current top tier tournaments are showing us that the teams that have rosters of incredibly mechanical players are not necessarily the teams bringing home the first prize. Many people think that they play well with others, but take a second to analyze your game and you may find some room for improvement as is with most things.

Being aware is probably going to be a major talking point in all of my writings. It just has so many applications across the game and to me is one of the biggest factors in a player's success or failure. You could have all the mechanical skill in the world and still get blindsided by a challenge if you're unaware of the other players' movements. I'm going to talk specifically about the doubles playlist, as it is probably the easiest playlist to work on these points. Everything we cover will be transferrable to the 3s playlist as well, but I find that fewer people on the pitch gives you more time to work on specific things.

For the sake of practice, play a few games of doubles (unranked because we're just practicing or private matches with bots if you never want to lose) and try to ignore the other team as much as possible.

Really focus on knowing where your teammate is the entire game. It is so important to get into that mindset. Only focusing on one other player on the pitch means you have a much smaller chance of double committing and allowing easy goals. It's also just good to know where a teammate is because it allows you to make smarter decisions with your touches. If your teammate takes the ball forward, follow them up at a little distance and be aware that a few things could be following very quickly. He could take the shot himself, in which case you would not be needed immediately. He could be challenged and the ball may be cleared forcing you to get back and make a save. He may also attempt to beat the defense by passing the ball over to you. 

Being aware of the possible outcomes means that you are less likely to be caught off-guard. This naturally rolls the ball into the court of our next topic.

However your teammate decides to play the ball, you need to be prepared for what comes next. Positioning is going to be key when it comes to being a great teammate. Give your teammate enough space to do his thing comfortably and get into position where you expect a pass would come through. If your positioning is solid and your teammate decides to pass, the only thing between you and a free goal is an epic save. Being ready for a pass in the doubles playlist means your net is wide open though, so having enough boost to quickly retreat back to your goal is extremely important. Good positioning generally means having the option to press an advantage or the ability to swiftly get back into a defensive role. Boost management will definitely fall into this category as well.

Even if you are in position for a pass, if the defense clears the ball and you're out of boost, then you were completely unprepared for the play. It wouldn't be a Rocket League article if I didn't briefly touch on rotation. Rotation just goes hand in hand with being prepared. It allows you to jump out and get some boost. It also gives you the momentum you will need if the ball gets cleared past a teammate. Don't be caught unprepared and out of position. Rotate! The more aware you are of your surroundings, the better prepared you can be for that next touch. If you are prepared, then you can handle it.

Being supportive in Rocket League can have a lot of meanings. First, I want to talk about sharing the ball. I'm not saying never go for an awesome solo play, but what I am saying is that it is a lot easier to confuse the defense with two players. Setting your teammate up with a good pass and getting the goal gives you the satisfaction of knowing you made that play happen. Plus, it puts points on the board which is never a bad thing for your team. Passing to your teammate also allows you to pick up some much-needed boost before getting back into position. Being supportive could also mean being the passing option for a teammate in trouble. Position yourself where you can be sure that you are visible to your teammate to make it easier for his pass to be accurate. Short infield passes can be a great way to draw out and dissect the defense, so use your teammate as the goal scoring tool they are!

Another way to be supportive is through communication. Everyone has an extremely excellent replay worthy whiff occasionally. I do it just as much as the next guy, but try not to get frustrated when a teammate whiffs and try not to let it frustrate them either. If you have a keyboard or a microphone, keep encouraging them. You know as well as I do that you don't improve unless you keep practicing things you don't nail consistently. If you can tell that the person is trying their little heart out but just can't seem to do it, take them under your wing for a little bit and practice together for a session. You get to practice your passes and positioning and your teammate can build up some confidence.

While working on mechanics is very beneficial to improving your game, working on being a great teammate can help you take that win ratio even higher. The best teams in the world right now are the ones with the best team chemistry and awareness. I'm not telling you anything about teamwork and sharing that you don't already know but take the time to focus on it in a few matches and you'll be better for it. Keep in mind that every situation can play out in multiple ways and you can better prepare yourself for the future. Be that supportive guy that can clean up mistakes, set up plays, and get back just in time. Be the guy a teammate can trust and you'll both do great. Until next time, keep scoring goals and making friends out there!

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