A great team is made both on and off the field. Aside from talent and training, a team can find success by simply spending time together. Team building and bonding activities help reduce conflicts on teams, establish common goals, and contribute to a fun and positive environment. LM teams have found success by fostering lasting relationships between their players. Each team consists of different players and therefore they have different ways of team building that work best for them.
Before big races, the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams dine at player- hosted pasta dinners. Lela Miller ’24 of the girls’ cross country team expressed that, “In running, it’s easy for cliques and small groups to form because of different pace groups, but getting to eat together allows us to talk to everyone and get ready for meet day.” For teams that tend to practice with separation in groups, outside-of-school team-building activities allow players the chance to converse with all of their teammates. Runner Alexander Goonewardene ’24 expands on this, stating, “The pasta dinners not only help us fuel well for our meet, but also give us time to connect outside of running. It’s super easy to plan, and everyone just brings their own pasta and a chair.” Teams perform best when they feel comfortable around each other and want to succeed together. The cross country teams’ pasta dinners are an excellent example of how something as simple as eating together can result in athletic success.
During preseason, the boys’ soccer team focused on their chemistry along with their tactical skills at practice. The tiring summer practices were not only essential for their fitness, but also for building a foundation of friendship and respect between the players. Yasir German ’24 shared, “I think that the organized practices help us stay connected and build more chemistry in preparation for the season where we all feel comfortable and build trust in each other’s ability.” Evelyn Mastaglio ’24, a member of the girls’ soccer team, mentioned another important aspect of qualities that make a great team. She stated, “Our team has a lot of fluidity between grades and interage friendships.” When students are heavily separated by grades in school, it can be easy to ignore others who do not share the same age. Sports teams allow daily intergrade interactions that provide opportunities for athletes of different ages to work together to find success.
Whether on the court or at Yapple Yogurt after practice, the girls’ volleyball team is always focused on fostering what Brooke Johnson ’24 refers to as a “fulfilling and fun environment.” She emphasized that “it’s important to be serious during practice and use the time to improve, but we also have made a point of keeping practice fun.” The team understands that a fun and productive environment is critical for achieving greatness on the court. Johnson supported this mindset, commenting that “Having a tight-knit team is crucial, especially within a team sport, because court chemistry is everything. If we’re not able to play in an environment that’s beneficial for everyone, we can’t find any success.”
While no team can succeed without competition and grit, a healthy mix of training and chemistry-building activities are imperative for any team aspiring a championship title. LM sports have a lengthy and storied history of success due to our student-athletes fostering a supportive community that allows every team to flourish. Behind every championship team, there’s a group of people who have shared countless moments together that have brought them closer as a team and to victory.
