WHERE TO START WITH A NEW TEAM
You’ve been asked to organise a team?!
We’ve worked with dozens of team managers, administrators and captains at clubs, schools, businesses and events. We’ve observed the ingredients that are essential for great success and reduced headaches. We have arranged them into this 10-step recipe that has been tested by many of our clients and proven failsafe
PRO TIP: Accept the honour. But don’t let IT ruin your life!
1 – Start with your “Why?”
This is going to seem like an obvious question. But most people don’t have a clear answer to it, which can end up making life harder than it needs to be. And that question is: Why will this team exist?
- Is it to bring honour and legacy to your institution?
- Is it for team-building and camaraderie?
- Is it for brand publicity?
- Is it to win at (almost) any cost?
- Is it for a specific event?
- Just for fun?
- For staff health and vitality?
- Or some other reason?
It might be some or all of these things. But what’s most important right now is which is the most important. Ranking the number one reason will make all of your future conversations and negotiations easier.
Obviously, this is all going to include a conversation with the organisation being represented by the team, so it’s good to have this step sorted out to the best of your ability first.
2 – Agree on a Goal and a Routine
Depending on the answer in Step 1, the team should now agree on a singular key goal. It can relate to an event (“Be match ready to ride in Le Race 2023”), a PR goal (“50 positive press mentions”), a placement (“Qualify for Next Year’s Nationals”), or something else. Working backwards from the goal, the team will need to estimate and schedule a training routine. How long? How frequently. Where? What will be done before/during/after the sessions? Coffee? Beers? These decisions will be easy if you know the team’s primary purpose. (Refer to Step 1).
3 – What’s in a name?
Create a team name that’s fun (AND relevant). Examples of ideas to get the sprockets turning:
- Puns: Accountants – Kick Assets, Engineers – Steelers Wheels
- Rhymes: Lawyers – Legal Eagles
- Word Associations: Christ College – The Disciples
- Alliterative:
The Chertsey Chain Gang
You can try a naming competition - everyone is allowed to submit 1-3 ideas by next Friday, and there will be an election for the final name. And there are many performance-enhancing websites where players can search for ideas.
In choosing your name, always remember Step 1 - Start With “Why?”. In some cases, the name may simply be the name of the institution it represents. (Team Emirates).
4 – Visual Identity a.k.a Your Individuality Index
You might want to reach out to your apparel provider at this point. Joyride Apparel has a low-cost design service ($180. This can be used as credit towards your order if you go ahead.) that works with you to get a hot-looking team identity before you have to commit to a stitch of clothing! First things first though - pick a colour. It does not have to be the exact PMS/#/CMYK code just yet - but do decide on one dominant colour. Only one. Let it be the start of the show. It’s OK to have a second colour, but only as a “pop colour” - to be used only sparingly to “pop” out from the main dominant colour.
Handy Hints
If this team is part of an existing organisation, then your colour is probably already decided. It should be the principal corporate colour (or pair of colours)
If you can choose your own colour, make it one that is NOT used by your closest rivals toward your goal. To stand out, you want to be different.
Remember you’ll be wearing lycra. Most people (especially “those of a certain age” or power-to-weight ratio) look better when the apparel’s background colour is dark (tending toward black). This is generally more figure-flattering than light colours (tending toward white), which accentuate those curves that we might be seeking to subdue.
Depending on whether you are a stand-alone team, or one that is sponsored by a corporation, a principle logo may need to be decided. At this stage ideas can be very draft, just thoughts, there’s time to do the details later. The answer in Step 1 will help drive the design.
(If you bring your logo and ideas to James at Joyride Apparel, he’ll be able to come up with designs for a small fee that will be credited against your purchase of apparel).
5 – Roles & Expectations
Who does what?
Wise heads say to name the roles first. And then select appropriate member names who will fit into those roles.
You will need a:
- Captain to champion the team
- Team manager
- Fundraiser
- Notetaker and organiser of things
- Support driver and general roustabout
- Road captain
- Coffee
runner ... cyclist
Now, where the rubber hits the road.
6 – Dollars & Logistics
Here is a checklist of some stuff you’ll need in your kit for you and your team, and what you can expect it to cost.
Dollar, dollar bills ya'll
- CONTENT_HERE
7 – Sponsors, Sponsors, Sponsors
If you’re a corporate team, then you probably have your sole sponsor right from the get-go, and you may already be liaising with the person in the company who is championing the team. Or, you may indeed BE that very worthy individual. In this case, look after your sponsor’s interest by assembling a team that is successful in its Why outcomes - whether these be team building, publicity, staff health, or any other goals contained in the team’s "Why".
If it’s your team idea and you want buy-in from the company, here’s who you need to court:
- The marketing team, especially if the Step 1 Purpose is brand publicity. The marketing team will want to know the cycling team’s plans in advance so that it can leverage the publicity opportunity by (for example) running customer sweepstakes, coordinating press releases, social media stories, or other things that they can integrate to make the marketing payoff way greater than the operating cost of the team (per Step 6).
- The HR team if the Step 1 Purposes is team building, health and fitness, those sorts of goals.
- The finance team, even if not the decision makers, need to know the value of the team so that its line item in the budget is safe from cuts (or abrasions) later on.
If you’re a pro team, then it goes without saying that performance and brand presence are what matters for your sponsors.
8 – Get your gears on!
The “kit” - the team apparel - can be one of the biggest headaches for the hapless soul who is charged with this nightmare.
Here’s what can (and does) go wrong.
- It doesn't turn up... argh!
- They turn up, but the sizes, colours and/or logos are all wrong
- The kit turns up and looks ok, but as soon as you put it on, the stitching gives way in some 'not so discrete places' ... sigh
- Every b*****d moans and blames you until the end of days.
Here are six valuable insurance policies you can take out in advance
9 – Fundraiser or Launch Event
This is just a good thing to do and is part of “leveraging” the benefits of owning a team. Involve the broader team (other staff, partners, family, students, whoever) and have a buoyant social event.
Some things to consider when organising your event:
- Have one organiser in charge of the event and delegating functions
- Have a budget for it
- Nice venue
- A purpose and a main speaker
- Food and bevvies
- Start and finish time
- Team clean up and debrief
10 – Be seen And enjoy!
Now the adventures begin. Remember always to refer back to Step 1 - Why?! Promote. Socialise. Win. Learn. Train. Live well. Now go ahead and conquer.
