Time on the road can be one of the best times for a sports team to bond outside the usual realm of training and competition. Interaction between players and between players and management in a non-competitive environment allows them to see each other as more than just how their respective roles define them.
On the other hand, managing a team on the road can sometimes be a challenge. In the usual setting, there are established rules of behavior that are expected from the team. Players recognize and abide by them. In the transient settings and atmosphere of transportation and hotels, however, the line between what is acceptable and what is not may be blurred.
The key to the perfect sports team group travel is a clearly defined set of guidelines for behavior and interaction among team members and also with other members of the public. Management must ensure that they do not allow any overstepping of boundaries despite a loosening of the reins.
The best sports team group destinations are perhaps those that allow the team to discover a deeper history of the game and to appreciate the contribution and dedication of those that played it before them. For example, a baseball team might learn and be greatly inspired by visiting the ‘home of baseball’, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in New York.
Another activity that reaps rewards for team interaction, performance and inspiration is attending professional games of the sport to see the true masters at their best. There are few places better to pick up pointers that TV coverage might not reveal. Many sports venues offer attractive discounts for group attendees and some even offer even lower rates if you are from an organized team, for example, from a league or from a school or college.
Sportsmanship and innate talent knows no boundaries in sport, so it is not necessary to attend only games of the sport which the team plays.
Another excellent idea is to set up matches with teams from another jurisdiction, state or even country. The lessons learned from interacting with people in places which are very unlike your own has a remarkable way of promoting a greater appreciation for opportunities and understanding that sports transcends all barriers.
A great idea that many sports teams have used is to make include a specific humanitarian side; helping to build homes or digging wells that provide fresh water to communities will have a positive impact not only on the communities but also leave lasting impressions on the team that will last a lifetime.
