How To Create Training "Squads" within Your Team

Now more than ever making players feel heard, valued, and important is key to a good and healthy team culture! For this reason and other below we love the idea of coach's creating small groups for players to work out within in and outside of practice. These are called "Training Pods". Keep reading for some ideas on how to set these up!

The idea of a training pod/squad is to split your larger team into groups of 3 or 4 players. This allows players to interact closely with players they may not typically, while getting better and building team chemistry. 

Here are some ideas of what to have the pods do, as well as how to split up the players: 

• Within these pods, there are opportunities for goal-setting, and accountability efforts as as discussed in this blog post about weekly goal setting, competitions, and creating why statements. After you announce who is in eachothers group,  have them find a spot in the gym to talk with each other and share what their goals are for the week or month. 
• If possible, require that the pods get together outside of practice to workout, (maybe go for a run) or to do something unrelated, like grab a coffee or ice cream and just hang out. This may seem silly, but it helps team-members relax and bond.  
• we highly recommend mixing the groups up by different ages and positions. Ex. 1 upperclassmen, 1 rookie, 1 guard, 1 post.
• Have the squads participate against each other competitively in practice (4 v 4 or 3 v 3). 
• Have the squads set their own weekly goals, write them down, and hold each other accountable.
• Make sure to type out the squads and share them with everyone. 
• Consider switching the squads up a few times throughout the season. 

So, what do you think about setting up team "squads"? We know this idea doesn't fit within every team culture, but we do encourage you to try it out and see how your players react to the idea. 

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This blog post is 1 article of a 4-part series geared to help players, teams and coaches Get Motivate and Stay Motivated! Check out the 3 other blog posts to keep the ideas flowing:

How to Create Weekly Goals With Your Players
How to Create WHY Statements With Your Athletes
How to Launch and Internal Competition with Your Team

Download a sassy PDF that outlines all 4 ideas here & hang it up in your locker room or office!