Set the Table
A team coming together is built upon the relationships within your team growing. In order for them to grow, players need to build connections with one another. Unfortunately, building deep connections with one another isn’t a strong skillset many athletes possess. Conversation with the goal of connecting is a lost art and our relationships are the ones suffering. If we can’t build connections; how are we going to grow closer?
The Going for the Gold exercise will teach your players how to have deeper, meaningful conversations, leading to greater connections.
"“The Going for the Gold gave me a plan and strategy to try and build deeper connections in conversation. I find myself ‘going for the gold’ when I talk to people now. It’s pretty fun.”"
A Lead ‘Em Up Training Camp Graduate, High School Senior
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Lesson Plan
Player Growth Areas
Exercise Length
Language Guide
Goldmine
A valuable connection between two people
Investing
Putting time and attention towards a goldmine with the intent of growing it and making the relationships richer
Banker
An individual familiar with other people’s gold and works to connect their golds to one another
Example Video
See Go For The Gold in action below to get a better understanding of how to teach the the Exercise.
Additional Resources
Posters
3 sizes to choose from starting at $10
Download and print yorself
Exercise Reminder Card
To emphasize and reinforce the lessons learned in this exercise with your players, download and share this graphic with them 24 hours after completing the exercise.
Quiz Questions
Use these questions below to engage after you have taught the exercise.
- What is a “goldmine?”
- What occurs when we drop gold?
- What does the role of “banker” require one to do?
At Home
Coaches, use the below question, reflection, and action to engage parents, guardians, and other family members in the lessons learned in this exercise.
Suggestions on how to use: Email to parents the day you have taught this lesson, add it to the materials you send home, or text it to text message threads with your players.
- Question: What’s the difference between “We Cool” and “My Guy/Girl”?
- Reflection: Who are three people on the team that you “don’t know like that” but would like to have a better connection with?
- Action: Think of three gold-mining questions to ask the three people you thought of and be ready to share their responses at home.
Coach’s Reflection
Coach, take a moment to reflect on the lesson and how you can lead by example to your players.
Coach, how often do you ask Gold Mining questions? How stronger would your connection to coaches and athletes be if you knew a little more about them? Think about making this part of your normal interactions with coaches, athletes, and fellow peers on a daily basis. To take it a step further, spend some time thinking about how you can effectively serve in the role of a banker. Whose gold can you connect?