Men team-building ideas?

[profmom]

One of the boys' coaches mentioned that he'd like to see our program do more team-building, i.e., have more activities that help the guys bond as a team. Has anyone out there done anything that has worked well (for guys or girls)? If it helps to frame the issue, as far as I can tell, there aren't any festering problems, bullying, or jealousy in need of resolution; I think the agenda is more about retention by getting the guys to support each other through the rough patches.

 

[Quadqueen]

I know the boys team at DD's gym has regular sleepovers. They rotate houses. They all apparently love it! Might be hard to do if you have a huge team, but could do it on occasion, broken down by level...?

 

[skschlag]

we do several things...pizza parties on Friday night after gym, water world trip every summer, Holiday and end of year parties. Our coach has things at his house for the boys. We get together at local sports restaurants (bars ) or people's houses to watch things like Nationals, Worlds, Olympics, Etc. They do a corn maze every fall.

In addition, individual levels will do different things. Sleepovers, dinners, etc.

Good luck!

 

[vagymmomma]

Are you looking for activities inside or outside the gym (or both)? For boys outside the gym, I'd probably suggest laser tag if there's one near you. DS always loved that as did his friends (and it's a great way for them to burn energy with limited risk of injury). Inside the gym, our girl's team does buddy exchanges every meet. There's a theme for each meet and they pick someone new each meet to give a gift to. At the home meet they had to make a poster to hang on the wall for their buddy, so it doesn't have to always be about buying something. Even doing it a couple meets would be fun -- plus, it's amazing how creative people can be with the themes.

 

[gymnastbeth]

On every Thursday practice, my team does "game day". It's mostly a regular practice, but for a half hour all of the team girls and guys (level 2-10) play a fun, team-building game. We (girls) have team sleepovers once a month for individual levels, and go on team outings with the entire gym (to amusement parks, bowling, etc.) about three times a season. Last year the whole team went to a rock climbing gym at the end of the season- that was FUN. Also, going out to dinner after meets as a team is always fun! Just don't get food on the warmup jacket! Also doing fundraisers together as a team, like a car wash, can be a really fun bonding experience.

Don't know how well those ideas would work for a boys team, but they seem to work for my team really well.

 

[profmom]

Sorry to be slow to get back to this thread, but thanks, everyone, for all the great ideas! I think one of their coaches might actually be interested in doing a sleepover at the gym with them. The moms have decided that this would be a perfect way to get the gym dads more involved in supporting their sons, LOL.