Whether you’re a coach or a team captain, there are plenty of reasons to want improved team spirit. With the opportunity to increase performance, improve camaraderie among teammates, and to create an inclusive and positive experience for everyone involved, it’s easy to see why you should work on team spirit. Even with the best players, fostering a strong sense of community and sportsmanship still requires work. We’ve put together four easy ways you can build team spirit for your team.

Practice Team Building Exercises

When you’re trying to work on your team spirit, there are plenty of team building exercises you can undertake to improve things. Of course, if you’re starting from scratch with a brand new team, basic introductory exercises that help team members get to know one another and foster some conversation are a good place to start.

For teams that have been together for some time, try setting group goals for the season, like setting a realistic record of wins or discussing ways in which to improve team cohesion. If you need some help getting started, LiveStrong has some good ideas for team building like developing communication skills through sharing common challenges.

4 Ways to Build Team Spirit

Plan a Periodic Dinner

Sometimes the best way to build team spirit is to take the team off the field, the court, whatever it is. Having a weekly or monthly dinner is a good way to encourage social bonds on the team and improve overall morale. When teammates like each other, they tend to perform better on the field as well. Not to mention, this gives you a good opportunity to discuss upcoming changes or make any announcements with everyone present.

At the end of the season, it’s always a nice gesture for the coach or the team captain to plan a celebratory dinner to show appreciation for everyone hard work and dedication that went toward making the season a success. It helps to leave everything off on a good note and gets everyone excited to return for next year’s season. If you want to go the extra mile, giving out awards for team members who have shown exceptional dedication or make notable progress throughout the season is always a good way to reward and to encourage future performance.

Design Custom T-Shirts

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but making team t-shirts is a great way for team members to show some pride in the sport, and it can double as a fundraising opportunity for the group. It’s easy to design t-shirts online with a site like RushOrderTees which allows you to pick out a style you like, select your team colors, and upload a logo or choose from the available template options. Once you’ve collected everyone’s size and decided on a design that everyone likes, place your order and you’ll have new team t-shirts in no time.

Choose a Team Charity

Engaging your team in charitable activities is a good way to get them involved in a common commitment and external goal. Working together toward a selfless goal is a good way to develop teamwork skills in which athletes focus on the team rather than on themselves. While professional teams like the Boston Red Sox have charities that have donated over $50 million in the past 10 years, your team can aim for a smaller scale goal with the same principles in mind.

If you follow these four tips, you’ll be well on your way to building a stronger, more cohesive, more unified team. And remember, don’t forget to have some fun while you’re building team spirit!