Team Building Activity Instructions

By: Wade Gilbert

Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season

Provided by: Human Kinetics

E-File Team-Building Activity Instructions

Objective

The E in E-File stands for enthusiasm. The activity is designed to teach and reinforce the importance of being a good teammate by serving as a source of positive energy and support for each other. At the end of the activity each athlete on the team receives an enthusiasm file filled with statements of admiration from every other teammate. This activity can be done at any time during the season, but it may be most effective late in the preseason after the team has had some time to train and compete together so that the enthusiasm comments will be more authentic.

Materials Required

Pencils, a pad of paper, and one file folder for each athlete.

Procedure

1. Give each athlete a pencil, a sheet of paper, and a file folder.
2. Ask each team member to write down their names on their file folder and place it in the center of the room.
3. Then ask them to write down 3 things that they admire about EACH other member of the team. They should use a separate sheet of paper for each team member. For example, if a soccer team has 12 team members, then each athlete will fill out 11 sheets of paper (everyone except him/herself) with 3 positive statements about each team member on each one.
4. Once they have completed all of the positive statements, have the athlete place the sheet of paper in the corresponding folder of each athlete.
5. When this process is complete, the coach should collect the folders, review them to insure all of the statements are POSITIVE, and then add his/her own statements to each athletes' file.
6. The following day, the coach passes back each athlete's "ENTHUSIASM" file and has the athletes review the statements enclosed. If done correctly. each athlete on our hypothetical soccer team would have 33 positive statements, plus 3 or more from the coach as a reminder of the important contributions they make to the team. This reminder is an excellent "feel good" exercise and can immediately help with team climate.
7. Reviewing the "E-File" from time to time can help athletes when they find their confidence or attitude waning.

Discussion Questions

1. How did you feel when you reviewed your "E-File?"
2. Why is it important to feel "enthusiastic" when playing sports?
3. What does this exercise tell you about how important you are to the team?
4. What does this exercise tell you about how important your teammates are to the team?

Reprinted, by permission, from J.J. Hammermeister, 2010, Cornerstones of coaching: The building blocks for sport coaches and teams (Traverse City, MI: Cooper Publishing), 228.

Coaches should use the time immediately following a team-building activity to lead the team in an open discussion about the meaning and lessons that can be derived from the activity. The goal of the debriefing period is not to solve any team-building issues, but to stimulate self- and collective-reflection about team dynamics.