The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SKIPPERED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
K
I
P
P
E
R
E
D
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "as whole team needs to be" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case as whole team needs to be = skippered.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SKIPPERED mean?
SKIPPERED verb- To captain a ship or a sports team.
- To take shelter in a barn or shed.