How to Create Team Spirit   Team spirit: what is it? "The spirit of a group that makes the members want the group to succeed." wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn Team spirit is a very desirable attribute for a group of young soccer players to have. With it, a team is more than the sum of it's parts. It plays 'above itself', Without it, a team is no more than a group of individuals.  To visualize the importance of  how 1 player can affect a team to work as a whole.   Q:      But is it possible for us, as soccer coaches, to build teams with 'spirit' in the same way that we teach our players to dribble and shoot?   A:      Yes, we can.   ·         We have to make sure that every player knows they are a vital part of our team and that no single player is more important than the rest.   ·         We can reinforce the notion that every player is a key player by making sure we treat all our players fairly and alike; we must not have favorites.   ·         Also, setting individual objectives is a useful way to motivate and reward young soccer players. Team objectives with the players participation is another way to build team spirit (U12-U14). Coach and players can then discuss “how do we go about achieving,” our team goals.  Coach then will set the training sessions around the team’s goals.   ·         Group activities away from the soccer field are also useful in forging team spirit. Go bowling together, take the team to a restaurant, Sleep-over’s, and even volunteering as a team.   ·         Players should arrive on time and have proper uniform matches. Never let a player get away with turning up late or not having the required uniform. i.e.; anyone late, coach as stated that you will not start the game. Coaches will set this at beginning of season under his/her expectations of the players.   ·         Watch out for cliques. If you notice a small group of players bonding among themselves at the expense of other players, act quickly. Split the group up in all your coaching activities.   How to achieve team objectives? Players following the team rules. Each coach would have stated some of his/her own expectations and rules for the players to follow. Players can help decide their own team rules/objectives. Your role as a coach is to make sure they are applied consistently and that the penalties for not observing rules can be applied to the team as a whole, not just individuals.   For example: persistently talking while the coach is talking will result in less time for the end of session scrimmage. Players will then learn to manage the team for undesirable behaviors. “W Win as a Team, Lose as a Team, and Train as a team.” Team Building Activities and the Details in team dynamics Creating team spirit (or team building) cannot be achieved by one action alone. It is a reflection of the way you and your team interacts in every way, both at training and at matches. If you follow these suggestions you will create a team worthy of the name and lay the foundations for long term success.