Among athletes, relationships go beyond playing time on the field. Good communication and strong chemistry are essential for athletes to perform to the best of their ability.
According to Psychology Today, chemistry is defined as the “strong, conscious connection between people that is important for psychotherapy” With wholesome chemistry, a team is able to build trust, improve morale, and effectively solve conflicts that come to fruition.
Safe spaces and comfortable environments are developed when positive vibes are extended throughout the team.
However, student athletes often face many pressures whether this may stem from school work, performance pressure, or anxiety.
(Jeannie Iris Ngansop)
According to the National Collegiate Athletics Association, in 2021, 65% of women’s sports participants and 58% of men’s sports participants reported experiencing concerns with mental health.
Different athletic teams across WHHS, have participated in several team bonding exercises, such as the cross country team who often has pasta dinners together.
“Team bonding has made our performance a lot better,” MJ Hartnell, ‘27, a runner on the cross country team, said.“When we have our pasta dinners they really make it a positive environment. So, when you’re running your race, you see all your teammates around you, and you feel like, ‘oh yeah I’ve got to keep going and keep running for my teammates’. Just because all the team bonding makes you become better friends with your teammates, and you work better as a team.”
In order to prepare for the strenuous Saturday meets, the team holds these pasta dinners every Thursday. Pasta Thursdays alternate between players’ houses which allows athletes to welcome teammates into their homes in efforts of building camaraderie.
“Once in a while we have some form of a fun incentive,” Hartnell said. “We also play games before the meets, like spikeball. At the meets a lot of teammates come together and cheer for other teammates.”
Cross country is not the only athletic team that partakes in team bonding. Volleyball also engages in group strengthening tactics in order to make the team stronger.Team manager of womens’ JVA volleyball Leah Conn believes that matching shirts has had a lasting effect on the players.
“[Matching team shirt colors] is mainly to keep them together. It’s like a team builder. It creates the sense of friendship and it emphasizes that everyone loves each other and that everyone is a family,” Conn ‘26.
(Jeannie Iris Ngansop)
In addition, on the field, football players gather in huddles after every practice play to encourage each other.
Before each game, the football team is treated to a team meal dinner where the players are able to feast while focusing on achieving another win.
With close team bonding, relationships are further strengthened among student athletes. Although the most important moments typically occur on the field or court, creating impenetrable relations benefits the team in more ways than one could imagine.