U.S. Center for SafeSport
Female soccer team receiving coaching strategy on field stock

How to Welcome New Players

and Safely Build Team Camaraderie

The start of any sports season comes with anticipation and excitement for coaches and players alike. However, as you prepare to welcome new players on to your team, take a step back and consider how you can set the expectation of positive team camaraderie.

As you’re writing up game plans and mapping out competitions, the possibility of hazing occurring on your team might not be top of mind. But it happens more often than you think—with 74% of students involved in varsity athletics programs having experienced hazing in order to join or maintain membership on their team.

As a coach, you can help establish a culture of safety and advocate that players partake in respectful team bonding rituals.

Hazing Vs. Team Bonding

When new members join a sports team, their teammates often welcome them through team traditions that are meant to strengthen camaraderie. But sometimes these rituals can turn negative or harmful. By understanding what hazing is, coaches can help spot potentially hurtful behavior early.

Hazing

Hazing is any conduct that may abuse, degrade, intimidate, or put a person in danger in order to join a group. Athletes may use hazing as a condition for joining or being socially accepted by the team. No one can consent to hazing—even if they appear willing to participate.

Characteristics of hazing

  • Humiliation
  • Coercion
  • Degradation
  • Power Dynamics

Team Bonding

Positive team bonding helps athletes feel connected and supported. These rituals and traditions welcome athletes on to the team in a positive, respectful, and inclusive way, often leading to stronger teamwork during practice and competition.

Characteristics of team bonding

  • Inclusivity
  • Mutual Respect
  • Cohesion
  • Trust

Examples of Hazing in Sports

Coaches, stay aware of potential signs of hazing—and encourage your team to partake in inclusive, positive team bonding rituals instead. Explore the following examples to understand the difference between the two.

Example 1

  • Hazing: A team captain tells the new teammates they need to post videos of themselves doing dangerous social media challenges.
  • Team Bonding: A team captain posts a video of the entire team doing a choreographed dance together in their uniforms.

Example 2

  • Hazing: Senior team members require all new teammates to strip down to their underwear and cover themselves in water and flour.
  • Team Bonding: Senior team members organize a fun obstacle course for the whole team to run through before their first game.

If you find out that hazing is happening on your team, and your sport is affiliated with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movement or you’re unsure of its affiliation, make a report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport. If your sport is outside of the Movement, report the misconduct to your sport organization or law enforcement.

Set a Positive Tone

Coaches have an opportunity to establish a culture of respect at the start of the season and create a team environment that does not tolerate misconduct. While team bonding traditions may occur outside of games, practices, or events, coaches can still play a role in encouraging safer, healthier ways to build camaraderie—like suggesting the entire team goes to a favorite restaurant for a post-race lunch or asking athletes remain until the end of the competition to cheer on their teammates. Use these prompts to start the conversation with your athletes about creating or continuing positive team bonding traditions.

Explore more ways you can support your athletes. Learn how to create inclusive sport environments and lead with positivity. 

U.S. Center for SafeSport