ABCs OF MENTAL TRAINING: T IS FOR TEAM BUILDING

BY AIMEE KIMBALL, PHD//MENTAL TRAINING CONSULTANT

You may think it’s odd to find an article about team building for swimming, a supposedly "individual" sport. However, many swimmers perform better when they feel a sense of team and believe that the individuals with whom they train are there to support them and wish them well. As such, team building is a very important topic for swimmers and their coaches to understand.

What’s a team?
At its core, a team is a group of individuals who work together to accomplish a shared goal. Sharing a goal creates a sense of mutual respect since teammates know everyone in the pool is working their hardest to do exactly the same thing. For some teams, the goal might be to win a national or state title, for others it may be to have everyone drop their time by 5% from the year before. As long as they work with each other and assist each other in accomplishing this goal, then they are a team.

Why a swim "team"?
Because the result of a team swimming competition is really determined by individual performances rather than an interaction between team members, many people overlook the importance the concept of “team” has in this setting. What also complicates matters is the idea that you are often competing against rather than with team members, as is customary in many other sports. So, other than needing a team winner in meets, what is the purpose of a sense of team in swimming?

First, teams are important because athletes do their best when they are comfortable, when they feel supported, and when they are confident. Having teammates who will continue to like you as a person regardless of your performance and who you know are rooting for you can help you to have this sense of comfort and confidence. Members of a "team" should cultivate these feelings in their teammates and feel this security in return.

Second, a team is important because it creates a culture when athletes both learn how to excel and are pushed by others to do their best every day. When team members have a shared identity (this is who we are, how we train, and what we are known for) swimmers buy into this culture, embrace it, and become it. Thus, the culture of team (assuming it's a good one) can help athletes to excel.

There are many other reasons why teams are important, but when the culture of the group fosters encouragement, a desire for teammates to succeed, and everyone feels responsible for and accountable to others, then a “team” truly exists.

How to create a positive team culture
There are many ways to foster a positive team culture. First, team building activities should be done regularly and can include pasta dinners, laser tag, or games at the end of practice.

Other than “fun” activities, the following suggestions can help to develop a foundation where a supportive and encouraging team atmosphere can thrive:

1) Captains/team leaders can have an open team discussion without coaches present about the goals for the team and expectations of team members.
    a) What are 3 characteristics every member of this team will have?
    b) How do we define success?
    c) How do we encourage each other?

2) Have a “compete but cooperate” motto. A good team member wants others to do their best, they just want to be better.
    a) A true team member pushes you and competes with you to see who can swim their best time. It's not about beating a specific individual, it's about every member of the team swimming their best.
    b) It can backfire when coaches constantly pit team members against each other in a negative way. Teammates can (and should) race, but constant comparisons and punishing the "loser" can have negative side effects:

• creates anxiety
• friends become enemies
• swimmers may hold back because they don't want to hurt their teammates' feelings

3) Remove classifications based on ability, age, year in school, etc. Often the "good" swimmers stick together and the rest become outsiders.
    a) Do what you can to make sure all team members interact regardless of their demographics

• Create families (group of about 4 swimmers from different grades/events/ability levels)
• Secret supports
• Goal buddies/big brother-big sister

There's an M and an E
You’ve all heard the saying, “There is no ‘I’ in team”, but there is an M and an E (me!). To be a team, every team member needs to look at themselves and ask what they contribute to the team and what they can do to make their teammates better. A team is created when individuals who train together know they are accountable to others and work to be a positive influence on those around them.

Make it great!