default
Member
I am mainly concerned with 12u's personally, But I am looking for any team bonding ideas. What have you done to get your team to finally mesh? Was it an experience? Was it softball related? Off the field? I am up for any ideas.
default
Member
We as a team do alot off the field. Sometimes maybe not the entire time at once; for example going out on the boat. As an entire team we do charitable services, last year we did Angle for Animals and visited (helped) with a tball team. This year we plan on doing about the same but add on a Food Kitchen. We are defiinitly doing our halloween night out probably followed by a party. The girls on their own text one another and go out to the movies. In my opinion this make them jel very well. As a coach I couldn't ask for a better group of girls and parents and this is continuing from last year pretty much same group this year. (8 returning players). I can typed four more pages on how well this team gets along. The three new girls that came on board felt welcomed the first minute they met the team. We have no "clicks", no he says she says from players or parents, absolutly no drama.
default
Member
My wife always has a slumber party in the Fall. All the girls must be able to attend and they have to turn in the cell phones at the door. Then she has a yogi instructor come in and has a whole slew of activities. They were 11U last year. So it should work great again this year.
We also have a team food table at all tournaments. And the parents bring tables, tents, grills, and all types of stuff. When the girls get done with a game they all go eat together as a team. The parents can't eat because we are all sick from watching (I am hoping I do not get as nervous this year).
Another thing my wife does which we think helps is during throwing warm ups they form 2 lines. Then she has them "rotate" so every one in one lines throws to every one in the other line. It seems kind of silly but it made a huge improvement in team communication and play. I am not sure it is needed at the 14U level but at 10U and 12U it makes a noticable difference. My 10U daughter is really bad because she only wants to play catch with her "BFF" at practice.
We also have a team food table at all tournaments. And the parents bring tables, tents, grills, and all types of stuff. When the girls get done with a game they all go eat together as a team. The parents can't eat because we are all sick from watching (I am hoping I do not get as nervous this year).
Another thing my wife does which we think helps is during throwing warm ups they form 2 lines. Then she has them "rotate" so every one in one lines throws to every one in the other line. It seems kind of silly but it made a huge improvement in team communication and play. I am not sure it is needed at the 14U level but at 10U and 12U it makes a noticable difference. My 10U daughter is really bad because she only wants to play catch with her "BFF" at practice.
default
Member
I suggested one year for an out of state team to "rent" three 15 - passenger vans and come together as a team to cut the parents costs for travel.... instead of driving individual cars, etc...
The coach told me later that it was such a bonding experience for not only the players... but the parents as well.
The coach told me later that it was such a bonding experience for not only the players... but the parents as well.
default
Member
Getting the team to bond makes the entire season less stressful. They need to be put in a completely "non-softball" environment in order to reduce the grouping that naturally occurs on the field (I.e. "outfielders", "hitters", "bench warmers", etc...)
A few years ago, our team overnighted at Atwood Lake Resort in February. Indoor pool, game room, lounge, etc... Players got along great, and parents gelled, too.
A few years ago, our team overnighted at Atwood Lake Resort in February. Indoor pool, game room, lounge, etc... Players got along great, and parents gelled, too.
default
Member
A couple years ago we went to a nursing home and spent several hours helping the residents cellebrate the holidays. The girls did crafts, played games, etc... It was guite a memorable experience for the players and the residents.
default
Member
Gorilla Glue or "C" clamps.
default
Member
Make sure all the Girls have each others cell phone numbers. Then encourage the parents to enroll all of the girls in a unlimited texting plan.....
Problem solved......
Problem solved......
default
Member
We do lots of team stuff off the field which is why my team gets along so well together. We go out to eat together, have cookouts, order pizza at the motels, they stay at each others houses, magic mountain stuff like go-carts and mini. golf, bowling, cedar point, and I can go on and on. Thats why there is no drama on the team. BTW I have 11 girls that attend 10 different High Schools. They are a great bunch of girls and the parents are too.
default
Member
I used to give the girls on my team a "buddy" for the week before a tourney. They had to make them something or buy them something ($1) and write 3 things you like most about your buddy. Each week they got a new buddy.
Usually everything was about softball, how good of a player they were, an amazing play they had made, etc. We would exchange them before our first game of that tourney (or when all the players were there at the tourney). The girls got really creative and made really nice gifts for each other.
Usually everything was about softball, how good of a player they were, an amazing play they had made, etc. We would exchange them before our first game of that tourney (or when all the players were there at the tourney). The girls got really creative and made really nice gifts for each other.
default
Member
We take ours to the haunted houses, they LOVE it!!! Bonfires or parties are good.
default
Member
Occasionally have them circle up after practice or a game especially after a tough loss and either hold hands or interlock arms. The coach starts by saying something positive about the team in general or about one of the players. Then one of the girls starts and does the same thing by saying something positive about one of her teammates. Then that girl has to say something about another teammate and so on until everyone has made and received a comment. This has work well for me in the past. A variation is to pass out a bag of sunflower seeds and have each girl take how ever many they want but not put them in their mouth. They have to say a positive comment about their team or individual players for every seed they took. They have a lot of fun with that one too.
default
Member
This year we had the team and their families over to our house for a Buckeye game. We had a pot luck and the parents got to get to know each other while the girls played kickball. It was a blast for all!
default
Member
I agree with most of the other responses as they relate to non-softball related activities. The team has to has some interaction outside of the playing field for them to truly bond. But, you can also use softball activities as well. Once a month we have a pizza party in lieu of practice where we use the time for "ClassRoom" training. We go over game situartions and coverages on the dry erase board while eating and drinking and then play board games after we finish. Also, to avoid cliques, make sure that all girls are required to warm up with a different partner at every practice and game.
default
Member
Super Glue?
default
Member
default
Member
I am at a lose of words at this time; I want to say something........but I won't, but it's really hard to keep to myself. Is anyone else on the same page as me here?? Okay Okay I do have a question; what if I'm out of sunflower seeds do pretzels have the same effect?
default
Member
We had a great time two years ago attending the Columbus Zoo for Wild Lights. We froze our rear ends off, but that just added to the memories.
default
Member
^^^ I was at that affair.
default
Member
The best team bonding we had was a 15 hour bus ride to Oklahoma City
Similar threads
