The backflip. When my son scored a touchdown in flag football, he celebrated with a backflip. And for years, he did a lot of backflips.

Then he joined a new team and found out that he was really good at snapping the ball as the center. And his role changed. He now started each play by hiking the ball and then stood and blocked. No touchdowns, no backflips.

About three games in, he was frustrated. “Dad, I want to score touchdowns!” After all, hiking the ball and blocking isn’t super fun and it definitely isn’t backflip worthy. No one high-fives you after another successful snap. But it is absolutely necessary for the team’s success.

So we talked. I told him how he was actually the most important player on the team, how no play can be successful without a good snap, and how many other teams fail when they can’t snap the ball accurately.

He embraced his role and delivered perfect snap after perfect snap all season long. He didn’t score a touchdown that year, but his team won the championship. And to celebrate, they all did a flip (or somersault as ability dictated).

Often, the most important part of success is unseen and uncelebrated. We all want to score touchdowns, but sometimes our role is to snap the ball and block. What do you need to do today that no one will see or celebrate?