I’ve been asked a few times what the best thing a team can do for “team bonding” and every time I respond with having a team party. Now one of the earliest opportunities for a team to party is the infamous Rookie Party. There has been lots of controversy over the years with rookie parties on sports teams but when done right they are the best bonding moments that can happen.

For my rookie party the vets (veteran players) dressed us up in 3 groups: 1. Tourists 2. Wrestlers 3. Sluts

Lucky for me I was apart of group 2 and I was dressed up as a sumo wrestler. Our objective was to complete a series of tasks throughout the city which we were in (Charleston). To make a long story short we had a great time drinking around town and completing our tasks. Group 3 got a lot more attention than any other group and were almost kicked out of a few bars because of the outfits. After that party the team was so much closer because we partied all night and everyone felt loose enough to talk to each other and have a good time.

The Rookie Party is only good and beneficial for bonding if the Vets aren’t taking it too far. For instance I recall hearing a party where the rookies had to get dressed up in a diaper and hit on girls at the house party.. the girls thought it was hilarious and so did the team but the rookies didn’t like it at all and thought that it was embarrassing. Another time one rookie lost beer pong so he had to get dressed up in a thong and walk through the party (which only had wives, GF’s and family). So that was a little awkward for that player to do since he would be seeing these people for the remainder of the year but he took it very well. And then there is a few rookie party stories that shouldn’t be shared because they were a little too crazy.