Our Coaches have an amazing experience with player development on and off the field and today Coach Iñaki is going to talk about the principles to build a healthy and strong team cohesion. Cohesion is a process that is reflected in the tendency of the group to not separate and to remain united in order to achieve common goals.
For this reason, we believe that coaches should consider the following facts:
Effective communication
Create an environment where everyone feels comfortable to be able to express opinions and feelings sincerely. We do not like to see players who do not feel comfortable talking to their coaches. Recently Simeone, the head coach of Atletico de Madrid said that he wants to hear his players since a coach needs to understand what is the team thinking and if everyone is following the same path.
Explanation of roles
Clearly clarify to each athlete the role they play in the team and how they contribute to success. Everyone needs to feel part of the common goal, and need to feel that they belong to the team. Roles are important but only to achieve a common goal and sometimes we would think that the center forward or the captain have a more important role that the guys on the bench but this is not true. Everyone on the team has an important role since we will never achieve a goal without everyone being involved.
Build Pride in Subunits
Endorsement and pride among those in similar positions or roles. Encouraging help among our peers. We have heard many times that the “not starting goalkeeper makes the starting goalkeeper a better player” and there is rivalry in every practice but the common goal always goes first.
Set challenging group goals
Shared challenging goals for everyone so everyone knows and follows the same path.
Avoid the formation of subgroups
Stimulate the exchange of colleagues in training, in the team travels while spending time in the bus, hotel, etc. Make sure that everyone in the group feels part of it.
Avoid excessive rotation
It reduces cohesion and makes it difficult for members to bond. The experienced players must help the new guys in order to keep the team spirit
Promote personal knowledge among members
Get to know and understand in depth the needs, motivations, opinions and roles of the other members. Get to know each other beyond the professional side. We have seen many times that professional athletes try to makes us understand their feelings of the field. Seeing the person not the player is a key factor to understand the behavior of the player on the field. It will help us to join him to achieve his future goals.