Every team can achieve team chemistry by simply taking on the following:

• Live that relationship is the key to everything

• Create a Code of Honor (Basic Principles) to live by

• Practice, practice, practice

In order to be successful each player must realize what they have done. By saying, “yes” in a commitment to “the Code,” they are promising to keep the principles and clean it up when they fail … which they will surely do.

If you are promising something and you NEVER fail to keep that promise, you are probably playing too small a game. Plus, in order to play big you have to be on the edge of failing at all times. Those Olympic gymnasts who are after the coveted “ten” know what I am talking about.

Sometimes on teams the circumstances don’t favor certain individuals. Playing time, depth of personnel and quality of schedule may all have an adverse effect on an individual’s experience of being on a team.

Is this a reason to quit? A player can quit and leave, or quit and stay and just go through the motions. They will justify it because … Because the coach doesn’t like me, I wasn’t given a fair chance, others get favored treatment, etc., etc. Pick your favorite. So when they quit they are quitting on the coach who didn’t give them a break and is now a bad guy.

I know you see they are quitting on themselves as well. What players don’t clearly see is they are quitting on every single coach and player on the team. They become saboteurs of their team.

You know what they do to saboteurs in wartime. This is a team without chemistry. It takes everyone to win.

Most team that “have chemistry” are winning. Not always do winning teams have chemistry, but it is usually that way. You want chemistry? Have integrity with your “Code of Honor.” What is integrity? It is keeping your word. Doing what you say you will do and cleaning it up when you don’t.

Remember, chemistry does not  always have to be accidental or only when the circumstances are great.