For a lot of students at Park, sports are an important part of our lives. Along with joining a sports team, you are also joining a community. Everyone has a different experience within these communities, and team bonding can be a great way to grow relationships between players. One of the most significant parts of high school sports are the connections and friendships the teams create. The right team bonding activity can create an amazing and supportive group environment that leads to more collaboration from athletes. This is because they are all working towards a common goal outside of the competitive atmosphere of sports.
When team bonding isn’t structured it becomes futile, and can further divide the team. We want the team to be unified, which is why it is so important for everyone on the team to have a good experience. If there is a lack of team dynamic going into the season, people may not feel as ready to start. A team that has no connection is a team that won’t perform well on the field, course or court. The effect of an unhealthy team is a bad season resulting in athletes losing their love for their sport.
Others argue that team bonding can feel awkward. This could be because initially people might not know others on the team. However, I think that throughout the course of the season, people become more comfortable with each other once they get to know one another. The earlier people get to build relationships with their teammates, the better the team dynamic will be. Team bonding allows the team to become closer and create an enjoyable environment. So, when the season starts, there is already a foundation of trust and unity, which can help people feel more comfortable and the team performs better.
A fun activity teams can do to bond is to grab a meal together, like breakfast or lunch. It creates a space for new conversations to spark, and the team can get to know each other more one-on-one. This creates connections that can carry into the season, which helps the new teammates have more options when looking for help or guidance. Another fun bonding activity is going ice skating. It helps people feel more comfortable making mistakes around each other before the season begins. It is a great option for this winter.
I believe the relationships built and the memories made are what make being part of a sport’s team so fun. Team bonding is an excellent way to ensure these things can happen prior to the start of the season. Park should continue to encourage the importance of team bonding. It makes people feel more included, unified in the team and creates a permanent positive impact.
