How To Build a Team. And how parents can help!
By Laurie Wolt
A coach is the main builder of a team. They are responsible for creating a cohesive group that works together on the pitch.
But that doesn’t mean that parents can’t help. Here are a few ideas for parents to help the team bond both on and off the field.
- Be Positive With All the Kids on the Sideline—Cheer for all the kids on the team. Say good job to all the kids at the end of the game. Connecting with all the kids in a positive way helps create a cohesive team. As the kids get older, we forget to do this, but it’s just as important to the teenager as it is for the 9U player. Kids need real positive feedback. But, then, don’t we all?
- Plan Some Team Events - Kids need to get together off the pitch to bond. Have them work together to do something. Make dinner and give each team member a task. Have small groups work together to carve a pumpkin.
- Do Some Philanthropy - When choosing your event, have the kids do something for someone else. Go to Feed My Starving Children or play some games at a Nursing Home. Have them earn some money by raking leaves and help them buy food for a food shelf.
- Bring the Lollipops - Once, when a parent got a little wordy with a ref, someone on the team brought some lollipops - the good lollipops. Tootsie pops. The kind that has the chewy chocolate in the middle. So good. And the lollipops became a thing we all looked forward to on the sideline. Find your team tradition and be a part of it. Bring a treat and share it.
- Encourage Your Child To Do Hard Things - Sometimes it’s hard to convince your child to participate in team events. They are tired. They would rather stay home and watch shorts or play video games. And I get that. There are times when I would just rather stay home than go out. But I go because I know that connecting with others is better for me than staying at home. And it’s better for your kids, too. So be strong and get your kid to go.
A team may last for a season. Or your child may make some lifelong friends. Parents can help the team by providing ways for them to connect with each other.