Developing a team cultureBY DAMON D. DUKES

AC 5000-8

INSTRUCTOR: BRYAN HAGGARD

Why is it important to develop a team culture?

Because it can either make or break the team.

So it not only be beneficial for the team but also the school and even the community.

It could help the team in the long run after graduating from high school or college.

How can a team culture develop?

According to an article by Dr. Jim Taylor from Huffingtonpost.com, there are two approaches on developing a team culture. One is let the team make the culture basically an “organic culture” that the team have a feel of ownership of the culture they made it. But it could be risky. The second but recommended approach could be the coach’s responsibility to take an active role in by asking the team know how they want things in order for the team by having a open questionnaire but at the same time let them know how I want things ran on this team.

(Taylor,2013)

My keys of having a great team culture.

Being Family-oriented

Team building

Accountability

Faith

Being family-oriented

Even if football is all about business on the field, I’m a firm believer in being family-oriented because some players on the team may not have a positive family or no family at all to be around.

This football program won’t only be about playing the game but more of being a blessing to each other, encouraging one another like brothers and being accountable to one another.

We live in a culture that isn’t family-oriented but about selfish ambition and the “all about me” syndrome. As a future coach, I refuse to allow that on this team.

Even John Wooden agreed on family importance.

Team Building

This is must if we want to build more chemistry on this team

Could be meaningful on the long run when players become parents, leaders in the community, etc.

Best opportunities for team building: Going to each other churches, spending time with each other families for a day, having one-on-one fellowship/mentoring time with each player so we can see where they come from in life

Examples of team building activities

Daily Devotionals

Attending conferences

Going to fun camps like Fellowship of Christian

Helping around the community

Faith

This is the to me one of the most important keys in building a team culture and even developing team chemistry.

In order to be successful team on and off the field we must learn to have faith even when the odds are stack against us.

Example from one of my favorite Christian films Facing The Giants

The result of having faith: another clip

Accountability

Next to faith is the final but big piece of building team culture.

This goes with being family-oriented because when times are tough and no one is out there to help us in tough times, God and us is all we got.

According to the bible, Proverbs 27:17 to me describes accountability in a nutshell

Accountability (continued)

Conclusion

I truly believe that these keys for to build a team culture and chemistry will help these young athletes/future leaders of tomorrow build confidence in themselves no matter how life throws all-out blitzes at them.

Sources

Facing The Giants (2006)

Bible.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-jim-taylor/build-a-positive-and-high_b_3659341.html