Developing Team Culture
As you train your team and prepare for your preseason matches, include activities that will positively impact your team’s culture and expectations.
Team Culture
Team culture is an interesting concept and a challenge. Though your program will develop an overall culture based on the coach’s (and/or staff’s) style, team expectations, and the players that move through it, each individual team will have its own culture. This culture is a by-product of the players’ attitudes, work ethic, and willingness to work as a team.
Previously, we discussed player wants vs. program needs. I feel that team culture reflects the willingness of the group to put the team first. Though your staff may have consistent expectations regarding putting the team first, every team will need to discuss this each year. The team should agree to embrace this expectation and be held accountable in striving to achieve it.
Plan Time to Bond
As a component of your program planning, you must strategically include opportunities for the team to bond. Every group must have these growth activities if they intend to be successful on the court. As a coach, you must invest the time to develop a skill set that includes strong communication, group building and dynamics, and group problem solving. These abilities will be called upon every season.
Season Plan
In much the same way as you map out your training plan, spend time developing a group-building plan. For my program, this often included:
Conditioning Camp
Group-building games (preseason - get to know you games)
Fun activities for team trips (watching a college team play, sightseeing, hiking, and other activities that support talking/sharing)
Eat meals together: Prematch meals at a player’s home for home games; eat together at restaurants on road trips (phones should be put away during meals).
Your staff should be aware of situations that lend themselves to a group discussion. For instance, if your group watched a college match, discuss how the two teams performed. How were the teams prepared, who won the match, and why?
team Meetings
I have seen a number of situations where meetings that had a specific purpose ended up going on tangents. As a program, your staff must follow a plan about meetings and time.
My approach is to stay on topic – i.e. focusing the team on a specific objective. If other issues or topics are introduced, note them and let the group know those items will be discussed at an appropriate time (and then make sure you actually do it).
For your team, I would implement these types of meetings:
Pre-match – focus on final preparations and areas of importance for the match (held an hour prior to a match).
Post-match (immediately after) – always keep these brief. Regardless of the match (win or loss), it is best to focus on one or two key items (team-oriented, and preferably positive notes).
Post-match (next day/practice) – now that you have had time to think through the match and (hopefully) watch film, provide additional feedback that will support the team’s preparation for the next match.
Team Building - As I outlined above, preplanned meetings/activities designed to promote team growth.
Challenge your staff to continually adjust your team-building plan as you move through the season. Your team will positively respond to your efforts if they see you make changes that address their needs/issues. This helps build a long-term culture of trust in the program.
The next post will focus on position and team training.