EACH SEASON, a football team takes on the characteristics of its senior leadership. In our program, we have tried to cultivate our team’s character by teaching our athletes what is expected of our team leaders.

We begin by calling a preseason team meeting that includes all of our returning seniors, the entire coaching staff and pieces of a homemade jigsaw puzzle.

The puzzle is made out of a 10” x 12” piece of masonite board. Prior to the meeting, the team motto is painted on the masonite and the board is cut into puzzle pieces — the number equals the seniors plus the coaching staff.  As each player arrives at the meeting, he is given a notebook with a piece of the puzzle tucked into the cover sleeve.
The meeting is always held at a coach’s house. The idea is to remove everyone from a familiar location (where our team roles are defined) and put them in a unique situation. In this environment, we hope to get our athletes and coaches sharing information that’s not related to football.

Dinner ... Is Served
The next step is for the coaches to serve the players a meal. When everyone has eaten, the meeting begins to take on a life of its own.

The head coach addresses the group and describes his philosophy of leadership. He may either use a handout or he can share a story of the kind of leadership that exemplifies his belief. No matter the topic, we always stress the servitude responsibility of leadership. We also stress that leaders are always watched — on and off the field.

Finally, we share positive and negative examples of leadership.
As the mood of the meeting becomes more serious, we talk about our goals in general terms. At this point, we ask

everyone to write down a personal and a team goal.

Foxhole Exercise
The next step is getting everyone to understand the dynamics of the group by conducting what’s called the “Foxhole Exercise.” In this exercise, each player goes off to a quiet spot in the house and fills out a brief questionnaire that asks him to select the three or four teammates that he’d want in a foxhole with him when things get tough. These should be the players on the team that he feels he could depend on. The questionnaire also asks players to list an example from their own past that exemplifies a positive and negative example of leadership.

The final question asks the player to list team’s three greatest strengths, as well as three weaknesses — or challenges — that the team will need to overcome in the upcoming season.

“Circle” Group Exercise
Once all the players and coaches are reassembled, everyone gathers in a circle. The assistant coaches speak first, one at a time, and shares a personal and team goal. As each coach talks, he presents his puzzle piece to gradually form the puzzle. After each goal is shared, the head coach then asks that coach, “Why do you coach football?” By this point, as the coaches share personal information about themselves and their passion for the game, the players become more focused and attentive.

Then it’s the players turn. One by one, each players puts down his piece of the puzzle, shares his personal and team goals, and everyone shares why he plays football.

After all the players have had their turn, the head coach stands up while holding the final piece to the puzzle. He shares his goals, his reasons for coaching and summarizes what he’s heard from the players and coaches in the circle. As he places the final piece of the puzzle together, the players can now read the team’s motto for the upcoming season.

The symbolism lies in the fact that as each player works hard to accomplish their personal goals, it ultimately helps the team accomplish its goals.

The team puzzle is hung in the locker room as a daily reminder of what we mean to each other and what we need to invest in each other to be successful. The puzzle exercise lays the foundation for our team’s leadership and has really helped us develop the kind of team atmosphere needed to achieve victory.