Overview
Working hard is important. Practice is important. But so is having fun and building a team culture where everyone wants to return the next day ready to give it their all!
There are SO MANY team and culture building tactics out there! This article narrows down three that can be accomplished on a limited budget – whether that budget is money, time, or resources! These three things are easy to implement right away!
Spirit Wear
Every single major sport and activity at your school likely has special clothing reserved for the participants on that particular team. Drill team should be no different! While you COULD certainly go out and get custom screen-printed t-shirts made or invest a ton of money in flashy warm-up suits, you could also have a ton of fun and get the same results on a budget.
All you really need is some t-shirt paint (or other clothing decorating items) and some basic white t-shirts! Spend a practice with some tables laid out, tarps laid down, and supplies in hand and get to work!
Maybe it’s a squad vs. squad challenge to have the most interesting design. Or maybe everyone gets to decorate their own but in like colors. The sky’s really the limit here. We’ve even seen multiple teams tie-dye their own shirts!
Now, specify a day each week when the uniform of the day is the shirt you made! Boom. Matching practice gear AND spirit wear on a budget!
This one sounds cheesy but we’ve seen it work too many times to not let it sit on this list!
Team Game Day
The drill season is a long one and there’s plenty of work to be done. Sure, you could spend a bunch of money and take your drill team out to a local restaurant or game center but you could also grab some gym equipment, find some space, and spend a practice having fun challenging one another at whatever sports or games come to mind!
The biggest thing to keep in mind here is obviously safely but the next is structure. Challenge your cadet leaders to come up with a schematic that involves everyone, builds camaraderie and fosters teamwork.
By the way, the best games are the ones that have been invented by the teams themselves. Whether it’s a rousing relay race of “Flying Turtles” or a round-robin tournament of “Jackie Ball,” (and yes, these are real made-up games with real made-up rules) it’s more even more fun when the game has been invented by the team itself!
Want a fun game that challenges drill skills? We recommend BATTLESHIP!
Everyone Gets a Number
What’s the old saying? “If you don’t have a number, you’re just a fan.” Just like any sports team, drill team members should have their own number! We recommend letting everyone pick their favorite (reasonable) number to begin with if you’re just getting started!
Then, your number can go on everything. It would be a great addition to the shirts you’re going to make (because you’re going to make shirts, right?) and it would be a great label for any gear you have specifically issued to YOU!
When someone graduates, let them pass their number on to an underclassman and watch the tradition grow! Maybe you even have a Drill Hall of Fame where exceptionally accomplished team members are enshrined and their numbers retired.
Doing something as simple as this gets everyone in the team mindset. And the best part? It doesn’t cost a dime!