Three ways to avoid and or fix locker room strain • Have regular weekly ‘squad meetings’ that are player only meetings to discuss issues. This is very effective because it gives players the opportunity to discuss anything that is on their mind dealing with the team! Individuals have an opportunity to discuss problems in their personal life that could be causing them to have a negative attitude at practice, or they can address another player or players “face to face”, in order to discuss the issue that they have with that individual or group.

Three ways to avoid and or fix locker room strain • Have regular weekly ‘squad meetings’ that are player only meetings to discuss issues. This is very effective because it gives players the opportunity to discuss anything that is on their mind dealing with the team! Individuals have an opportunity to discuss problems in their personal life that could be causing them to have a negative attitude at practice, or they can address another player or players “face to face”, in order to discuss the issue that they have with that individual or group. Team captains lead the meetings, and allow each person an opportunity to speak and share their point of views. But bottom line, it ends right then, right there! A solution is derived and resolution is achieved before the meeting ends.

Everyone is held accountable to team standards! The captains and all members of the team hold each other accountable! So this way, everyone is treated the same on the team, amongst the players! No one is above the next man, no matter if you are the all American athletes or the bench warmer, if you are a member of the team, you train, attend meetings, study film, make curfew, be on time, just like your brother, or sister on the team! Everyone strives for excellence and encourages on another to achieve greatness! The coaches can reinforce, but the players, the brothers and sisters govern the team, which promotes unity because everyone feels like the are an important part of the team, because as the saying goes, “I am my brother’s keeper!

Keep all of the family business ‘in house’! Just like what goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas, the same thing applies, “What goes on in the locker room, stays in the locker room”! Players make a pact or even a written agreement to keep everything in house! Outside influences can destroy a locker room very quickly because people on the outside are not familiar with team chemistry because they are not a part of the team. The same way that people in the outside may look at your family and say, “ your wife is so sweet and kind, I bet that you all never argue or she never raises her voice”, and you smile, but you are thinking, “Shoot, if you only knew how my wife chews on My butt when I leave my shoes in the middle of the floor, or the toilet seat up, after she fell in it.

What it looks like on the outside is totally different than what is actually going on “behind closed doors”, in families. The same applies in locker rooms. Just because it seems like someone is being treated a certain way, or they should be treated a certain way from an external view, doesn't mean that that is or isn't the the way it is. There are dynamics and chemistry that makes up the locker room, and causes it to function harmoniously; based on certain laws, rules, understandings and so on. For instance. “ when I played football in high school and college”, you didn't date a teammates ex girl or current girlfriend period, no exceptions! It was not a written rule, but an unwritten, moral, brotherhood code! That would be like dating my blood brother’s girlfriend, off limits!!!

So keep all personal team business, quarrels, disputes and even rules in house, so that outside influences do not tamper with it through their suggestions and opinions that could potentially disrupt the chemistry in the lockeroom!