Wednesday, April 27, 2016

The Human Knot Game

Team Building Game, Leadership Game, Human Knot, Game, Leadership, Team BuildingHave the group make a large circle. (This game also works well as a race between several circles in larger groups.) 

Have everyone put one hand in the middle, and hold hands with someone in the circle.  Make certain not to hold hands with the person directly next to you!  Repeat with the other hand, and be sure to hold hands with a different person.  Again, make certain not to hold hands with the person directly next to you! 

Then your group must use teamwork to unravel yourselves into a circle again without coming disconnected.

Helpful Hint:
To ensure that everyone is in the same circle, send a “pulse.” One person begins by gently squeezing their right hand. The person who is squeezed gently squeezes their opposite hand, which passes the pulse to the next person. Continue until the first person has their second hand squeezed. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Navy SEAL Standards

Navy SEALS, fitness test, fitness challenge, PST

Here is the physical fitness test for the Navy SEALS' training program, known as BUD/S(Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs).  Are you up to it?

Navy SEAL PST Standards
PST Event                    Minimum Standards        Competitive Standards
500 Yard Swim                12:30                                        8 Minutes
Pushups                            40 in 2 minutes                      80-100
Sit-ups                               50 in 2 minutes                      80-100
Pull-ups                             10 in 2 minutes                      15-20
1.5 Mile Timed Run        11:30                                         9-10 Minutes


Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Ultimate Patriot Championship


Speiker, Aquatics Center, UCLA, Speiker Aquatics
Here is one variation of an amazing team building, discipline, commitment and competitiveness program used by Coach Sam Bailey and Tustin-Irvine Patriot Aquatics water polo team.  How might you adapt a similar concept to your team?
  1. Each athlete votes for two student-athletes they consider leaders.  Coaches will tally votes.  The top three are made platoon leaders.
  2. Platoon leaders draft their team (platoon).
  3. Each platoon begins with 4000 points.  Points can be earned or lost each week according to performance and service. 
  4. The platoon that finishes last at the end of each week will have extra conditioning before or after the following practice.
  5. The top two platoons at the end of practice on June 18th will be brought the breakfast of their choice, as prepared by the other platoons, on the morning of June 23rd.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Outcome Goals vs Process Goals

goal-setting, setting goals, outcome goals, process goals, measurable, not measurable
It is important to set both outcome goals and process goals, and especially to know the difference.

Process Goals
Think of process goals as actions, or habits.  Collectively, you expect actions and habits to lead to a desirable end result.  But initially your goal will likely be to simply develop the habit itself!  Once you have the habit down, that's when you'll turn your focus to the end result, or the outcome, those habits are intended to produce.

Example of a process goal:  getting into shape.  When you begin working toward the goal of "getting into shape" you likely need to get into the habit of eating better and exercising more.  

So a process goal might be, “For the next three months, I am going to exercise three times a week for at least 45 minutes each time.  Additionally, I will eliminate all snacks and sweets from my diet.”  The goal is measurable and time-bound, but there is no specified outcome – no amount of weight lost or muscle gained.