It’s awkward to work with people you don’t know or someone you don’t necessarily like. 

Whether it be in a class, a job, or in this case sports, you need to be able to communicate and work with your teammates.

This is why most coaches prioritize team bonding. Team bonding gives players an opportunity to build better trust, communication and relationships. 

Cross country spends a weekend camping, the senior football players have a retreat, volleyball and soccer players have team dinners, and golf has lunch together before and after tournaments.

“We do games and stuff,” senior cross country runner Vivian Kalb said. “… All of our groups are mixed, so we have every single grade level in every single group.”

As a result, the newcomers feel more comfortable and the veterans ensure they know everyone. 

Volleyball, which went to the KU volleyball camp together, utilizes its downtime between matches.

“We will all sit together and do games and ask each other dumb questions, like what yoru favorite animal is,” senior Tatum Boettjer said. “We will sit there and just crack up.”

Soccer had an impromptu party at senior Scott Simmons’ house after they won the Titan Classic tournament on Sept. 11. They also have pregame meals.

“Before every varsity game we go to Scott Simmons’ house and eat mac and cheese,” junior soccer player Cooper Chadwick said.  

Football players spend time together volunteering, as well as weekly team dinners. 

“We call this thing the candle light, and it’s this thing where the seniors go up first and they talk about how much the team means to them and different things,” junior Derek Spring said. “… That really just packs the team together and makes us a family and it gets really emotional and, honestly, it’s just a really cool experience.”

Over time, any tension that may have been there fades away and teams become more like family.

Another reason bonding with teammates is important is because it’s easy to be friends when you win, but what happens when you lose?

Without a good relationship within your team it’s easy to take frustration out on one another, say harsh things, start drama.

The goal is to work together, communicate, be supportive, and lift each other up. 

That’s when the success comes.