Hi {{first_name}}
Thanks for the great response to our new Program Director’s Playbook. I’m Chad Henry and I’ve been in your shoes, so each week I share real, concrete ways to improve your youth sports program. This week we focus on building culture at both the team and club level to help your athletes elevate their game. Please let us know how we’re doing here, and have a great sports week.
Chad Henry and the Signature Locker Team
🧱 This Week’s Play: Building a Culture That Lasts
You’ve seen the slogans: “Family.” “One Team.” “All In.”
But a real team culture isn’t built by a printer or a pep talk. It’s built in the tiny moments that happen when no one’s watching.
It’s how your players handle losses, how they treat teammates who are struggling, and how they respond when the coach isn’t in the room. That’s where culture either takes root or falls apart.
This week’s feature breaks down what it actually takes to build a culture that sticks: trust, consistency, and accountability. These are the qualities that transform a group of athletes into a true team.
Because trophies gather dust, but culture compounds.
Read the full story 👇
Matt Belson | Founder, Scoops Lacrosse
📣 Program Spotlight
Eight years ago, Matt Belson just wanted his son Archie to love lacrosse as much as he did. Instead, Archie threw down his stick and walked away. The fix? Rainbow cones, a scoring game, and a shift from pressure to play.
That tiny pivot sparked Scoops Lacrosse — a youth program that now reaches 18,000+ kids across 55 towns (and counting).
Find out how one dad turned frustration into a nationwide movement 👇
⚡ 3 Quick Wins to Strengthen Team Culture
1️⃣ Turn Values Into Actions.
Don’t just say “respect.” Define it: how teammates greet each other, how they respond to mistakes, how they talk after losses.
Culture starts with verbs, not posters.
2️⃣ Build Micro-Rituals.
A 30-second team huddle, a post-practice “thank-you,” or player-led warm-ups — small, repeatable moments that make your values visible.
3️⃣ Reward the Right Behavior.
Shout out effort, sportsmanship, and leadership as loudly as goals and wins. What you celebrate tells your team what matters most.
