Locker room

As extravagant and luxurious as they’ve become, locker rooms aren’t just there to make a statement and look pretty. Their functions aren’t limited to acting as a changing room and storage space, either. As players and coaches will attest, locker rooms play a big role in team building.

They’re the place where everything pre- and post-game happens — conversations about how hard practice was, compliments on a teammate’s performance, discussions about upcoming games and areas for improvement, and passing comments on the best pizza places in the city. They’re a place for banter, jokes and fun, and they’re the starting place for creating a team that genuinely likes one another. The importance of team chemistry is something players and coaches know well.

Although this team culture can be fostered in many ways, one of the best places to do so is the locker room. It’s not guaranteed that players will meet up and bond outside of practice and games, but it is guaranteed that they’ll be the in locker room before and after workouts, practices and games.A nice locker room, though, can make players feel comfortable. The less grungy a locker room is, the less likely athletes are to rush out. If the environment is comfortable, players are more likely to take their time getting ready to go and to socialize before and after games.

Granted, a nice locker room doesn’t mean team chemistry will automatically form. The players are ultimately the ones responsible for building a positive team culture. Not even the nicest locker or the best chairs can force players to talk and be friends.