How to Organize a Team Get-Together Over the Holidays

Soccer season will be winding down shortly, and before you know it, snow and ice will blanket the field. As everyone goes their separate ways until next year, you may worry that distance will grow between teammates.

If soccer is the only thing players have in common, your fear isn't completely unfounded. Many people won't see their teammates over the holidays. That is, unless you provide opportunities for that to happen.

Prioritize your crew and promote bonding during the off-season by organizing a team get-together. Here are a few ideas that may inspire you. 

1. Escape Room

Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind team-building experience? Take your soccer players to an escape room over the holidays. These immersive role-playing games require teamwork and make for a great bonding activity. Plus, you can choose from a wide variety of themes to appeal to everyone's interests.

Teammates will work together to solve the escape room's mystery before the clock runs out. Split your players into two separate groups and see which can escape the fastest. 

2. Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are another brilliant team-building activity that you can plan year-round. First, choose a theme and where you'd like to have the hunt.

If players are old enough to drive, consider making it a citywide event and splitting the team up into groups of players who may not see one another often outside of games. Send invites and create the clue list. Then, organize the pre-hunt meetup and set everyone loose. 

3. Trivia Night 

Keep things simple with a good old fashioned trivia night. Invite everyone over to your home for a night of drinks, snacks and challenging questions. The theme can be soccer terminology and history to challenge their knowledge or the game.

You might also break the questions into categories referencing shows, music genres and other popular topics. Write your own questions or use an online generator and prepare small prizes for the winning team. 

4. Volunteer Together

Working together toward a bigger cause can inspire your team and bond them together as a group — more so than any game ever could. With more than a goal-line to play for, players can reach peak performance levels and learn what it means to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Look for other volunteer opportunities like hosting a fundraiser or serving at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter in your area to give back to the local community.

5. Host a Barbeque  

During the colder months, odds are you and the rest of the team aren't competing in any matches. You’ll still have opportunities to get together for a friendly barbeque, however.

If you haven’t hosted a barbeque in a while, you have modern options that reduce the work you have to do, letting you prioritize the party itself. Just make sure to bring enough a range of different foods to accommodate your players’ diets.

6. Homemade Slideshow

Highlight the fall season — or even last year's tournament —with a homemade slideshow featuring the team's greatest moments. Invite everyone over to watch them on the big screen and include plenty of snacks.

Coming together to relive these monumental acts of teamwork is sure to bond teammates through the simple act of celebration. Include a short blooper reel as well to remind everyone it's OK to laugh at your mistakes and use them as a catalyst for team bonding. 

7. Watch a Game

If you don't have time to make a slideshow, consider gathering to watch a live game, instead. Many leagues — including Bundesliga, the Premier League and LaLiga — began their seasons mid-September.

Consequently, there are plenty of games to watch, especially during the weekends. Invite everyone over to watch a big match, cheer on their favorite players and dream of being a famous soccer player and joining the big leagues one day.

8. Team-Building Exercises

Regardless of how well your team communicates and works together, team-building exercises can further develop these skills and make them more effective on the field.

From classic ropes courses to the Zen counting challenge, there are dozens of exercises that can improve communication, trust and cooperation on and off the soccer field. Prepare to lead your team through a handful of different activities as you pinpoint the leaders, the introverts and the team players. 

Creating a Positive Culture

The goal of any team-building activity is to create and maintain a positive culture. Good communication skills, teamwork and respect are simply components of this culture. Thus, by organizing one or two team get-togethers over the holidays, you can promote a strong sense of camaraderie among teammates both on and off the field.

Author Bio:

Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.