How do I bring the new team closer together and have everyone work hard?

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14 years ago 09/02/2009 9:32pm EDT

Last year our team was great. Our varsity team especially would meet all the time and we were all really motivated.

The problem is that this year, we only have 2 returners from our varsity and everyone else has graduated. There are many new faces and some talented freshman but we are just not as close as last year. I think a closer knit team allows for greater racing performances, but how do I motivate everybody to run more and run further? It is hard keeping track of everybody since I'm in the front and I try, but it's still difficult. What can I do to motivate everyone and have the team work harder and become closer? Thanks.

14 years ago 09/02/2009 9:42pm EDT

re: BVXCgirl

14 years ago 09/02/2009 9:49pm EDT

re: Leadership

Leadership wrote:
Circle Jerk?

haha exactly what I was going to recommend.

BVXC? Is that Buena Vista perhaps?

14 years ago 09/02/2009 9:56pm EDT

re: BVXCgirl

For the younger girls, try to make it fun, and slowly teach them that the hard work pays off. They will be looking up to you for your past success, and be excited about having good relationships with upper classmen, but you have to lead by example. Maybe get with older girls and have a fun initiation night for Freshmen a few nights before first race.

For Soph/Juniors, encourage them that it is their team now and their turn to lead, but they have to work for it.

For both, start with small goals and intermediate steps as you work towards state qual meet. Make sure goals are reasonable. Emphasize doing things as a team, starting with warm ups, stretch, cool down. Stick together as a group early on in races that don't mean so much like league meets so you can bring along the slower girls and push them. Maybe assign some fun things to older girls like fun making funny t-shirts, a ribbon everyone can wear, etc. It is too late for camp, but my daughter's team used to have spagetti dinners or pizza party the night before races to get pumped up and it worked big time. You many never all be buddies but if you make the non-workout stuff fun and always keep it positive, it will be easier to get the young girls to do the work.

Good luck this year, go BV.

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