Nothing bonds a team more than doing well at competitions. Personally I would rather gyms spend more time practicing and sharpening their routines then planning a bunch of extra outside activities.
Nothing bonds a team more than doing well at competitions. Personally I would rather gyms spend more time practicing and sharpening their routines then planning a bunch of extra outside activities.
There are a lot of great ways to help bond a team. A tradition in our gym is a team sleep over, for the older teams only (the little ones will end up crying). But we play games where they can laugh and have a good time, then incorporate a couple activities that will really challenge their minds. Team bonding is very important, if a team does not trust one another, how are they going to strive for the same goal. Way to go CheerTyme coach on focusing on the importance of the athletes relationships.
Thank you!! I sometimes get so involved in getting my routines on the floor that I forget how very important it is. We are having a sleepover this friday in our new gym and the kids are THRILLED. I have come up with some great games to get them thinking and depending on each other I think it is going to be awesome!!
Just a couple of fun team bonding things our teams have done. Some of them are seasonal but well worth the time and wait.
Pool Parties Movie and a Dinner Nights ( can be at someones home or local Mall Movies ) Sleepovers ( at the gym or someones home ) Halloween Parties ( best costume-scariest scream-best make-up ) Christmas Dinners ( everyone gets to dress up-Great for parents also ) Gym Softball or Basketball Games ( everyone plays keep score if you like ) Car Washes ( also fundraiser ) Camping Trips Snowboarding/skiing weekends Pre Competition Dinners ( someones home is best-Potluck ) Competition Day Breakfast ( Team meets at someones home or IHOP ) Scavenger Hunt ( break up into teams, solve riddles, dress up and have fun )
Basically anything that allows the teams to be kids and have fun. Always be safe and age appropriate. Adult supervision for the younger ones is an asbsolute must. Parents should always try and join in if they can, great way to make new friends and lasting memories.
ii found this on youtube and thought it was a great idea:
Looks like they had rock climbing, zip lining, trust exercises, high rope courses, games, sing alongs, each team decorated their cabin with a different theam (maybe it was a contest), camp fire, and dancing.
It looks like they had alot of fun and had to work together. Great idea.
I remember one of our coaches had us play this game, and now we all love it!
THIS GAME IS CALLED MAGIC RIVER ( I forgot the real name of it =p)
-Have the team split into two teams
-This game can take place anywhere, even @ the gym!
-Each team gets one pair of "magic slippers", preferably big slip on slippers that people buy when they want to wear slippers around the house (anyones feet must be able to slip into them easily)
- Create a river, you can pretend that the river is say...... four panel mats wide.
The team has to find ways to get every single one of the members across, but the person can only wear the magic slippers to cross ONE TIME! They can go back but cannot cross again being the one with the slippers
soo.. the team members strategize the best ways to get to the other side utilizing the right people at right times they can carry each other, carry as many poeple at once, do a shoulder sit and carry another in the arms, or have some one with the magic slippers on walk some one over and that person is stepping on their toes not touching the river...
I don't know if this makes sense with my version of explanation, but it's an awesome game, think about it, work with it and have fun with it!
At our gym we: 1) Take each team to the beach every year. 2) Have team sleepovers at the gym or at the coaches place. 3) We have trips out. 4) Lunch/Dinner partys
We are doing a sleep over this year, my juniors and minis. Of course the 2 boys and some of the minis are going home by 9pm. I have a Scavenger hunt planned (I can email it to you if you like). We are decorating tees and bandanas, dance contest, soul train line, you know food folks and fun LOL something to break the pressure of practicing non stop. Since school has been out we have went to the beach and Build a Bear together. There is nothing wrong with team bonding, matter of fact last practice we watched some competition videos from other teams all over the US for the first hour and practice was fun and very productive. I take advantage of the Summers because when competitions and school start we really don't have anytime to.
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They ask why I do this. I simply reply: I love of my children & I love our SPORT !
Hey Amy, I think we are going to do a beach trip before comps start, maybe we should get together with the new Vallejo Team (Radiance) and do it together. Just an idea, call me or the gym if you want to plans something.
but it's an awesome game, think about it, work with it and have fun with it!
