Team Building at Teen Ranch

©Breakey, D. 2015. Team Building.

Last week I talked about applying the Genius Hour concept to my hockey team. This past weekend I got the chance to put it to the test. I designated 20 minutes of my practice for "Gryphon Time". During this time players got to decide what they needed to practice and were given the freedom and support to focus on that. Coaches went around assisting players, giving them instruction and observing their collaboration. Each player had set individual goals for the season and they are rarely given time to work on these individual things. Applying the concept of Genius Hour into my practice was a great way to get the girls excited to learn about something they felt was important.

By now, if you've been keeping up with my blog, you know I am exploring how team building impacts the success of a hockey team. This past weekend I used my own team as research! The team travelled to Teen Ranch where they stayed as a team in a beautiful cottage, rode horses, did team building activities and spent time establishing what they wanted for the upcoming season. If you've never heard of Teen Ranch check them out because this place is amazing! The property is beautiful and big enough to host several teams. There is a hockey rink on site and there are plenty of fun activities to choose from.

Getting away from the hustle and bustle of home was a great way for the girls to focus solely on the team. We had a campfire one night and even did a fun relay race where half the girls were blindfolded and the other half had to lead them by only using verbal cues. They had to tape a hockey stick, lace a skate and find a hidden hockey puck! They had to learn to use clear communication and trust their teammates. It was a great team building activity and without a doubt the girls came away feeling closer and more united. I noticed a difference in our next practice as the energy seemed higher and the intensity was better. I attribute this to the team building weekend. My team is ready to tackle this upcoming season!

Before our first season game the girls have one more team building day to complete. On Sunday they will travel to McMaster University where they will spent a day at Altitude. This is a day spent completing trust activities. The girls will climb a rock wall, complete a high ropes and low ropes course, make their way up the " Alpine Tower" (a 52 foot climbing tower) and spend the day getting through challenges as a team. I bet that our next practice after we complete Altitude will be even better. Stay tuned!

©Breakey, D. 2015. Horseback Riding.

©Breakey. D. 2015. Relay Race.