Building Team Relationships Overnight

The Play Like A Champion Today™ GROW approach helps coaches to understand that developing Relationships on their team is integral to building a successful team environment. Building relationships develops team unity and cohesion. According to the PLC Coach Manual (p.25), cohesion defined by Carron is a “dynamic process which is reflected in the tendency for a group to stick together and remain united in the pursuit of its goals and objectives. High levels of group cohesion affect team stability, performance, and athlete satisfaction.”

Recently, I had the opportunity as a sport parent to aid my daughter’s athletic team in building relationships. We hosted the high school cheerleading team at our home for an overnight team bonding experience. The evening was characterized by a shared experience which began with every team member contributing to the menu for the evening (from subs to cookies to lemonade). The captains set the tone by opening the evening’s activities with a team bonding round robin question and answer session of “What are your favorites?” (such as “What is your favorite stunt? What is your least favorite subject in school? What is the scariest movie you have seen? What do you want to do for a career?) Team mates became more acquainted with each other as individuals with likes and dislikes. Amidst the giggles, many found that they shared similar feelings and beliefs, beyond their common love for the sport of cheerleading. The evening went on to include swimming, a bonfire with s’mores, competitive games with girls rooting for each other and a late night movie ending with athletes all in sleeping bags throughout the family room floor with their coach in the middle (maintaining a watchful eye). The sleepy team reluctantly was roused the next morning to pile into cars and head to an 8am practice. Although tired, the practice felt different to the young women who had shared a common team-bonding experience and who knew each other at a deeper, more personal level. Team cohesiveness was built and team stability was cemented.

I encourage all coaches to create such a team bonding opportunity for their athletes to build their team’s cohesion and develop Relationships on their team. I encourage parents who are in a position to support and enable this process to become a resource to their child’s coach in this regard. I encourage athletes to open their hearts to this opportunity to become a stronger, more cohesive team. The result: a forever memory of a shared team experience.

- Kristin Sheehan, PLC Associate Director