Welcoming new players to your team: how to do it right

A new player's first training session usually lasts an hour and a half, but the verdict on "do I belong on this team" often forms in the first fifteen minutes — while parking the car, hunting for the changing room, being greeted by a teammate or not. Those fifteen minutes are something you can deliberately organize.

First impressions count

The first training session largely determines how a new player feels in the team. Introduce the new player to everyone, assign a buddy who gives extra attention during the first few weeks, and make sure the new player knows how the team app works and where to find information.

Practical onboarding steps

• Add the new player to the team app and group chat.
• Send a welcome message on behalf of the team.
• Share the season schedule and team rules.
• Assign a buddy for the first month.
• Actively involve the new player in group conversations and decisions.

Social integration

A new player gets to know their teammates not only on the field but also off it. A team outing or post-training drinks is an ideal moment to build social bonds. Encourage existing players to actively include the new colleague.

Giving and receiving feedback

After a month, ask the new player how the integration is going. Are there things that could be better? Does the player feel welcome? This feedback is valuable — both for the player and for the team. A team that learns from new additions gets stronger.

The difference a buddy makes: an example

A volleyball team compared the experience of two new players who joined in the same season. The first got no assigned buddy, and two weeks in still didn't know which group chat held match information — she quit after six weeks. The second was assigned a fixed buddy on her very first evening, who walked her to the changing room, added her to the team app, and actively pulled her into conversations for the first three weeks. That player is now in her third season with the team. The only difference: assigning a buddy took the team manager two minutes on night one.

A good welcome takes little time but has a big impact. New players who feel at home quickly perform better and stay longer.