Team Building Activities for Athletes: How to Master the Art of Building a Successful Team Culture Through Intentional Activities

By James Leath

In my work with teams over the past twenty years, I have found activities like the ones in this course give teams two essential tools: shared language and inside jokes.

Every activity is described in detail and teaches how to introduce the activity to your team, along with execution ideas and things to look for to increase learning.

The activities are broken into five sections:

Section One: Interrupt Wake up the athlete and set the mood.
Section Two: Talk Bond with Teammates through Life Experiences.
Section Three: Grow Overcome Obstacles and Learn to Communicate.
Section Four: Entertain, Create Inside Jokes, and Make Practice Fun.
Section Five: Hype Increase the Intensity Level and Get Loud.

Also, I guide you through discussion with the team post-activity and what to look for to help make each activity a teachable moment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312698055

Book preview

Get the free audio version

Use the QR code below for your MP3 file of the book.

Changing the mental state of a student-athlete

Breakdown of the different sections

Handling objections from athletes, parents, and administration.

A replay of the webinar about the content in the book.

This mp3 audiobook currently sells for $9.97, but you can access it instantly and listen to it right now:

For more programs, free resources, and other books, please visit https://jamesleath.com,

and be sure to say hello on social media!

You can find him on most platforms @jamesleath

What Coaches are saying:

This practical, easy-to-implement book by James will serve many teams in a brilliant way. I've experienced James' games within the game and saw the awesome impact he made by galvanizing groups of coaches and athletes in a short period using these fun activities.

-Jerry Lynch, Ph.D., author of Win The Day and Everyday Champion Wisdom

As a PE teacher & theater director, I loved incorporating improv/team-building games into my classes & camps.  I was approached about three years ago to be the Team Building Coach for the girls’ JV & Varsity Soccer Teams.  I was thrilled when I found James Leath’s Team Building Activities for Athletes!  These great activities/ games are well organized, clear to understand, & give ideas to modify, depending on your team's needs.  I found it especially helpful that it was geared toward coaches & athletes. His shared experiences bridge the truths of coaching. Clearly, he has used these multiple times under multiple scenarios.  If you want to help create a richer bonded experience for your team, you have found it!!

- Wendi Shorkey, Physical Education Specialist,

Wilson Memorial High School, Girls Soccer

Using the activities in the book has been a game changer for me, my athletes, and our families. This book is a must-have for busy youth coaches who want their teams to reach their potential and have more fun.

-Matt Peterson, Executive Director,

Oak City Lacrosse Academy

James is a wealth of knowledge and understanding when it comes to coaching and all of the dynamics that go into it. His Team Building Activities for Athletes are essential to any team who wants to build cohesion. The great thing is, it doesn’t matter the team's age or skill level! Just do a rochambeau (rock paper scissors) tournament, and watch the team-building come alive. Yes, some of the activities seem silly at first, but that’s what makes it so valuable. It lets everyone be vulnerable and share that common bond. It’s a must for any coach of any sport.

-Steven Shipowitz, Head Coach MS Girls Lacrosse,

Lausanne Collegiate School

In my 25 years coaching youth sports, James has been a mentor and someone I have learned when it comes to unorthodox methods of inspiring and team building. James has spent countless hours coaching, mentoring, and traveling worldwide, speaking into thousands of athletes' lives.

-Chris Epperley, Football Coach

Central Unified, Fresno, CA

This book should be in the hands of any coach looking to improve deep connection and teamwork. Teaching to the heart is one of Coach Leath's best attributes, and his love for teaching and inspiring today's athletes comes across in his field-tested book: Team Building Activities for Athletes. With these activities, you and your team will GROW through a season together and create an environment of fun that your athletes will remember long after the final whistle or championship trophy is held high.

-Kevin Grammens, Women's Soccer Coach

Anchor Bay High School Varsity

James Leath is a master connector. We all know that trust is vital to high-performing teams, but few of us know where to start in building it into our culture. In Team Building Activities for Athletes, Leath supplies a great collection of proven and easy-to-implement activities. Whether you're just starting out or have been coaching for years, there is plenty in here that you can use to intentionally create a culture where athletes give their all for each other.

-Dave Miceli, Director of Athletics,

Burr and Burton Academy

James Leath's Team Building Activities for Athletes should be in the tool kit of every coach working on being a coach for transformation. These exercises enable the coach to set a tone for a session by getting the players working collectively and individually to problem solve and/or engage in behavior that builds self-esteem, team unity, and character development.  I've used these exercises over the last couple of years, and the kids love the interaction and excitement that these exercises provide.  I highly recommend this book for the coach who understands the value of the work beyond the X's and O’s.

-Frank Gurnick, Director of Soccer Operations

Dakota Alliance Soccer Club

I use activities, like rock/paper/scissors/cheerleader or big bootie, as an ice breaker at the beginning of the season, and it gets the group I am working with to bond quickly. This helps create comfort and safety, which is important when creating a positive culture. We incorporate all activities, like one-word story, to further enforce the team bond and to have FUN!

-Craig Brierley, Boys and Girls Varsity Swim Team,

East Hampton High School

BY JAMES LEATH

BOOKS / PROGRAMS

Team Building Activities for Athletes

Youth Sports Coach Fundamentals

The Resilient Athlete

Forging Men of Character

Sports Coach Book Club

www.jamesleath.com

A Note from Coach Leath

THANK YOU for supporting my first book, Team Building Activities for Athletes. This book is the result of 20+ years of working with brilliant coaches and teams across the US and overseas.

My gratitude for the men and women who handed me a jersey and a playbook is beyond my ability to express. Their words of encouragement, inspiration, and wisdom echo in my mind decades after turning in my jersey.

I hope these activities bring your teams closer together, bringing a sense of satisfaction and unity to each student-athlete through love, laughter, and reflection.

—James

P.S. If you spot any grammatical or spelling errors, please send them to me at [e-mail]. Thank you!

Team-Building Activities

for Athletes




How to master the art of building a successful team culture through intentional activities

By James Leath

For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

- Rudyard Kipling

Contents

Get the free audio version

Introduction

What do all great teams have in common?

Inside jokes bond teammates

Changing the mental state of a student-athlete

Hard skills and soft skills

Breakdown of sections

Understanding the activities

Modifying the activities

Objections, a.k.a. This is Stupid, Coach.

Athlete Objections

Parental Objections

Section One: Interrupt

Wake up the Athlete and Set the Mood

It’s almost practice time

Organize

Sorts and Mingles

Clumps

Line Up!

Fun

Simon Says

Dance Party

Alien Cow Bear

Eliminate

Two-Handed Ro Sham Bo

Categories

Super Hero Pose

Improv

Story Starter

Radio

Alone in the Attic

Section Two: Talk

Bond with Teammates through Life Experiences

Attention to Detail

Reflection

Create the Ultimate Teammate

Sharing a Defining Moment

The Safe Seat

Hero, Hardship, Highlight

Teambuilding

We, Me, You

Fear in a Hat

Personal Greetings

One Word

The