Teams aren’t just built on skill, they’re built on character. In John O’Sullivan’s course Transformational Coaching, one of the most powerful tools he shares is the “Qualities of a Great Teammate” teambuilder, designed to help athletes define and commit to the values that make their team stronger.
Why It Works
This activity gets players talking about what really matters on a team. Instead of coaches dictating rules, the team identifies qualities they admire in each other. When players contribute to the conversation, they take ownership of the team culture.
How to Run It
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Gather Words: Sit down with your athletes and ask them to share words that describe a great teammate. Suggest a few if needed.
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Create a Team Contract: Once the list feels complete, have each player sign under “I commit to being the type of teammate described above.” Coaches sign too. Take a photo of the contract and share it with the team and parents. This becomes a living reminder of the values the team agreed to uphold.
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Highlight Values Daily: Each practice, pick one word from the list as your “Value of the Day.” Define it together and watch for players living it out. Call out positive examples in the moment.
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Player Shout Outs : End practice with players recognizing teammates who exemplified the Value of the Day. Make sure every player gets acknowledged at least once a week.
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Season Awards: Instead of traditional MVPs, consider awarding players who consistently demonstrated team values. This reinforces what you want the team to prioritize.
By putting values at the center of your team culture, this teambuilder turns abstract ideals into daily habits. Players don’t just talk about being great teammates, they live it on and off the ice.
You can check out the entire course here.
