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Post by bcoachk on May 12, 2023 11:48:07 GMT -6
I hate the phrase team bonding because I think its some what over used. But we are in a situation where both our seniors and juniors are pretty talented but don't see eye to eye. They are both super competitive and they are very loyal to their class. We have an opportunity to be pretty good but have to mesh as a team. What are some things you have done in the past to help with this, I am looking for literally anything. Thanks.
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Post by MICoach on May 12, 2023 12:32:50 GMT -6
Did a day volunteering for Habitat for Humanity (this is a lot better in more privileged districts...where I am now there's a non-zero chance we'd be building a house for a player)
Have the high school kids work as counselors/coaches for the youth camp
Team movie night (we've done this the night before playoff games to keep kids out of trouble)
Team meals
We've organized the entire program in small pods that are led by a senior or high impact junior - develops leadership skills for those guys, but also manages communication, travel, and other things. We'll oftentimes make this our stretch lines before practice.
One school I was at had money to burn - we paid for a Navy Seal teambuilding group to come in and run a day camp with the program. There was some conditioning involved but a lot of mental toughness stuff.
Another hit was bringing in a snow cone food truck for the whole program at the end of the first week of two a days.
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Post by kylem56 on May 12, 2023 17:26:06 GMT -6
Victory Day- program works together to give kids with special needs a football experience
Habitat for Humanity
Letters to all the youth football players in our system
team dinners
Thursday night "Family meetings" varsity only
Son-Mother dinner
Son-Father dinner
"Day of Service" where each class was assigned a project around town instead of conditioning
dodgeball tournament at the end of our June team camp
Rent out the high school pool randomly during the summer
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Post by jg78 on May 12, 2023 20:10:22 GMT -6
I wouldn’t worry about it. At most, I would mix them up for locker room cleanup duties or something like that. Most boys can tolerate someone they don’t like if it’s mutually advantageous to do so. I don’t think it will be a problem.
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Post by sweep26 on May 13, 2023 6:36:29 GMT -6
bcoachk You are to be commended for recognizing this potential problem...Be direct with your team and point out your concerns. If the two classes continue their singular class loyalty at the expense of team success, I would predict that you a destined for a season of mediocrity. As the old saying goes, "teamwork makes the team work"...
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Post by chi5hi on May 13, 2023 8:21:58 GMT -6
Are they competitive with each other...or do they just not like each other? There is a difference.
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Post by Defcord on May 13, 2023 8:51:40 GMT -6
There’s a bunch of different things you can do but really it’s all about getting them out of their comfort zone and in proximity of the other groups.
Put them in situations where they have to interact, compete, collaborate with those that they wouldn’t on their own.
Human nature is to lean into familiarity and protect against outsiders (perceived or not).
Find a way where a junior and senior partner up and have something to accomplish together. Don’t even tell them the purpose is to bond. Just get them in a situation where to accomplish a goal they need each other.
2 v 2 basketball tournament
2 v 2 tug of war
2 vs 2 football drills…stuff like this
Or
2 man teams in fundraising
Group them as lifting partners or bus buddies and whatever…I’m less inclined to do this type of stuff but would consider it
People that don’t get along usually have gap in communication or understanding of each other and connectivity is a major key ih bridging that gap
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Post by bcoachk on May 15, 2023 13:49:29 GMT -6
Are they competitive with each other...or do they just not like each other? There is a difference. I think its a mix of both but there are absolutely some kids that don't like each other, I can't overlook that |
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