Activity: Hero, Hardship, Highlight
Great coaches don't leave team culture and cohesiveness to chance.
I recently facilitated a full-day leadership and character development day for a high school in Phoenix, AZ. In reading the feedback forms this morning, I saw a reoccurring "favorite" part of the workshop. It was an activity called Hero, Hardship, Highlight I first learned about from my mentor Jon Gordon. Since learning about it over ten years ago, I have walked teams through this activity countless times. This activity allows student-athletes to get to know their teammates in a different light, allowing for a better understanding of that person and leading to a more connected group.
Hero, Hardship, and Highlight is straight out of my Team Building for Athletes course you can find here.
The Purpose of this activity is to challenge each athlete to reflect on their life and nail down three moments that have aided in who they are today. Sharing with the team pushes the athlete to go deep into their lives and gain great insight about the person they are today.
Group Size: If you have more than 12 athletes, consider splitting the group. Otherwise, this can drag on. Or, you can do half your team one day and the other half the next day.
Materials Needed: Comfortable chairs help and are much appreciated over the hardwood floor. Also, consider the weather if you are outside. Grass and shade are a must!
Set up: Each player is given the challenge to consider his or her life and come up with three situations they can share with the group.
Hero. Who is someone you look up to? They can be dead or alive, someone you know or have never met. Share why they are a hero and how that has affected your life.
Hardship. One’s life is a series of moments that have the potential to change our lives forever. Adversity has a beautiful way of making us stronger than we ever thought possible. What is a hardship you have overcome to get to where you are today?
Highlight. Think back on your life and come up with the achievement, in your opinion, that has been the most significant in your life so far.
What to look for: If you see someone struggling, ask a probing question like, “What is something in your life that, if it had not happened, you would be a very different person?
The best way to use this activity is to choose 1 or 2 people a week, coaches included, to share. If you have a big team, consider breaking up into position groups of 6-8 if you are doing it all at once. However you do it, the results always lead to a great bonding experience for everyone.
For more team-building ideas and to get the first lesson in my Team Building for Athletes course, click here.
