Every championship team has great team chemistry, but what about the championship quality teams that struggle to work together?
Teams have an unspoken connection on the field and this is what team chemistry is. It’s a knowledge of what your teammates playing style is and how you guys work together best, amplifying strengths and helping out with the weaknesses. If you know what they’re thinking before they do anything you can move in a cohesive play to be successful.
What’s your purpose?
That’s what coaches ask their teams and the typical answer is to play lacrosse or have fun or to do their best. The purpose of lacrosse is to learn how to be your best version of mind, body, and soul.
Your mind as a player has to be laser focused. Your mind has to on topic and thinking in the now. There’s no time for the outside life drama, and quite frankly, the drama isn’t important in your life. Your body is your fortress. You have to care for it, improve it, love it, realize you can get through so much more than you think you can: it’s your mind that’s stopping you. Your soul is who you are as a person. What kind of player are you? Aggressive? Mindful? Fast? Are you a good person on and off the field?
These aspects of you as a player and person impact your team’s chemistry. If you have a balanced mind, body, and soul then you can give your 100% to your team. When you have 100% effort, your team will give you 100% back.
The bond between your teammates is a connection that should be on and off the field. You don’t have to like everyone, but you should be able to find the energy between the two of you to work together. Team bonding activities help find this energy needed within a team. Try a few of these activities:
- Hiking
- Creating team practice jerseys
- Escape rooms
- Relay races
- Watching film together/taking notes
These have helped my teams so much. This plus tons of practice, motivation, pep talks, and love for this sport has reminded us the purpose of lacrosse: whatever it means for you.
Nicole Gilbert*
Epoch Women Author
*Name has been changed to protect NCAA eligibility of student athlete
