Dealing with teens

[DWx]

Recently I have been given the responsibility of coaching our team of junior girls (11-17 yrs) for upcoming tournaments. They will be all be competing in sparring, team sparring, individual and team forms and the tournaments are all the type where we have to go away and spend a week travelling together. There are maybe 15 of them? and are all from different parts of the country and get together every 2 weeks for a 3 hour session.

One of the things that has stood out to me as a coach, is that the girls just don't seem to get on as well as I think they should. Within the 15 or so girls we have, there is a core group (could call it a clique maybe) that gels really well, then one or two smaller groups and then some of the girls are outsiders to all this. In all my years training, all the teams I was on always just got along but this lot seem to bicker quite a bit and stick with their own.

I know you can't force people to get along, especially teenage girls(!) but what strategies would you take to encourage a bit of team spirit? Is it productive to deliberately mix up the pairs when sparring so that they all mix? Anything else I could be doing?

[ashworth]

I would say definitely try to mix them up a bit more, maybe some team activities and choose the teams your self so they have to work together with others outside of their groups.

Keeping them within their own little groups will just fuel the situation and push them further apart, when it comes to sparring I like everyone to be able to spar with anyone in the class.

Just what I think anyway But good luck with all those girls! your very brave!!

[Nidan Melbourne]

As ashworth said mix things up. As a team you should gel quite nicely but obviously doesn't happen all the time.

Team bonding exercises are important to undertake, even if they all have been training together in this environment for some time.

Since I don't know all the details i can't give the greatest advice. But from the ages that you indicated (11-17 years) that can be part of the issue because the older girls won't want to be socialising with the younger ones because they are 'immature' or 'annoying'.

Are you able to run a training camp for 2-3 days? Because i have found they work extremely well especially every 5-6 weeks, but would have to be in addition to your normal training sessions every couple of weeks.

As my club is in the beginning process of undertaking such a program with our competitors (of which i am one), but our competition group is between 8 and 35 years old. So our requirements in terms of kata and kumite are slightly different, as our juniors have to wear certain equipment whilst our seniors only have to wear a chest protector (for kumite).

Please note that here in Australia the dominant tournaments are all WKF (World Karate Federation) Sanctioned Tournaments through the Australian Karate Federation. Although we have the ISKA (International Sport Karate Association) it is relatively small statewide.

[Bulltahr]

Team building exercises sound appropriate, also maybe look at setting up a "Big sister, little sister" set up, where the older girl looks out for the younger and the younger has a older girl to go to. Not sure if you know exactly what I am trying to say. Bridge the age difference by getting them to engage in this way, a form of giving them some empathy for other's than their little "clique".

[Bulltahr]

Oh yeah, I forgot............Take their phones away from them once they hop off the bus and they can get them back when they walk out of the dojo...............

[sensei8]

Oh yeah, I forgot............Take their phones away from them once they hop off the bus and they can get them back when they walk out of the dojo...............

Don't you mean, have them turn off their cell phones as part of dojo rules?! Because, the cell phone is private property, and imho, no dojo has the right to take anyone's cell phone/private property away.

[Bulltahr]

Oh yeah, I forgot............Take their phones away from them once they hop off the bus and they can get them back when they walk out of the dojo...............

Don't you mean, have them turn off their cell phones as part of dojo rules?! Because, the cell phone is private property, and imho, no dojo has the right to take anyone's cell phone/private property away.

Possibly in some parts of the world, but kids are kids and they can all go into a box for "safe keeping"..........

[bushido_man96]

This is a natural thing in society. Cliques will develop, and this could be due to personalities, whether someone is an introvert or an extrovert, and all other manner of things.

Some team building exercises might be a good idea, but I know from experience that when I get tossed into a group of unfamiliar people, I despise having to do the "stand up and introduce yourself, say something about yourself..." kind of icebreakers. Always hated those things. I'd much rather sit by myself, and work my way in as necessary. But that's just me. You might have some better luck with it.

[sensei8]

Oh yeah, I forgot............Take their phones away from them once they hop off the bus and they can get them back when they walk out of the dojo...............

Don't you mean, have them turn off their cell phones as part of dojo rules?! Because, the cell phone is private property, and imho, no dojo has the right to take anyone's cell phone/private property away.

Possibly in some parts of the world, but kids are kids and they can all go into a box for "safe keeping"..........

Or keep the darn thing in the car...with a parent...at home...anywhere except in the dojo and NOT on owns person during class...or put it in the locker, if your dojo is lucky enough to have them...leave it in your bag...just express consideration for the dojo and fellow students.

Like the wearing of jewelry and the like in a dojo, use common sense, and FOLLOW THE RULES...OR GO HOME!!

[DWx]

Thanks for the feedback all. Lots of good suggestions.

Since I don't know all the details i can't give the greatest advice. But from the ages that you indicated (11-17 years) that can be part of the issue because the older girls won't want to be socialising with the younger ones because they are 'immature' or 'annoying'.

Team building exercises sound appropriate, also maybe look at setting up a "Big sister, little sister" set up, where the older girl looks out for the younger and the younger has a older girl to go to. Not sure if you know exactly what I am trying to say. Bridge the age difference by getting them to engage in this way, a form of giving them some empathy for other's than their little "clique".

Funny thing is they're not really split along ages. The older ones do mix reasonably well with the younger members of the team. I suppose they split more along which dojang they come from and how long they have trained together. I know it is only natural for them to have preferred team mates but I'd at least like to make sure that individuals aren't being isolated.

Are you able to run a training camp for 2-3 days? Because i have found they work extremely well especially every 5-6 weeks, but would have to be in addition to your normal training sessions every couple of weeks.

That's a good idea. We used to do this when I was a junior. Might see if I can organise something.