The first challenge for each team will be the creation of a team identity and representing it with a "crest" or "coat of arms" for each player jersey.

Each of the New England Generals' teams will be known by their birth year. However as a team building exercise we want each team to pick a unique way of representing their birth year that is consistent with Generals' theme.  A motto for the team would be the second task for the project. There are many themes the players can find representative and/or motivating and we feel it's important that each team find their own. Finally a design for the team's crest would conclude the exercise. This might be the hardest part of the project but it will be one of the most entertaining and hopefully educational.

For an example of a completed team crest visit our 1994 Team

Some of our prospective players have already designed their own to propose! Each team should have a great time designing their crest! Keep the ideas coming!

 

The first part of the exercise begins with the birth year itself. For the purposes of this example we will use 2002 to work with.

There are many ways of representing the name that is consistent with our theme.  Some examples that could work would be:

II Legion (Second Legion)

2002 Bomber Group

'02 Battalion

2002 Special Forces

There are many contributing factors to consider. IF perhaps a good majority of the team were Irish or Scottish the team might adopt "Highlanders" in it's name. IF the team has a varied and diverse source of backgrounds then perhaps suggestions like "2002 Rainbow Division" or  "02 United" would be useful. Another idea would be to incorporate the coach's name. Examples such as:

"Roenik's Rangers"

"McMahon's Marauders"

 

Once a name has been agreed upon then a motto or creed should be expressed.  This is definitely a bit harder create. Historically this has usually come after a specific virtue or credit has surfaced. In many cases it came after long campaigns in which specific events spurred the adoption of a rallying cry. For our purposes it needs to come at the beginning. We are asking that the players choose something to believe in and play for. Some examples might be:

Latin/English:

Nulli Secundus ("Second to None")

Exemplo ducemus ("We lead by example")

Semper Anticus ("Always Forward")

English:

"Strength and Honor"

"United"

"Victory"

"Team"

It's easy to see how this becomes cliché especially after all the movies but we will do our best to have the players find their own. It is important that they find some phrase that is theirs to use when the team most needs to be reminded who and where they are.

 

The final part of the exercise is the visual aspect of the first two. It might be questionable whether this will be the hardest or the most fun. Never the less we are sure that every player and the team as a whole will feel a strong sense of pride once the mission is accomplished. A big part of the exercise involves the historical aspects of the idea; insignia, badges, unit identity and coat of arms have been around for thousands of years. Examples that most of us are familiar with can be seen in any of today's major sport leagues; their legacy is represented in the uniforms and logos of the teams. Of course you may also be familiar with the images from the government, military or major corporations. The main objective of this exercise is to bring an appreciation of history together with the need of each of our teams to find and represent their own unit. This exercise should give them a great sense of ownership and authority over their team. It's through exercises like this that we hope the players will begin to express themselves, as well as listen and work with each other.

Discussion, conflict and resolution are a big part of this exercise and an even bigger part of team building. This project will be monitored and mediated so that every  players input is valued. It is important that the parents encourage the players to speak up. Please remember that this exercise represents only the team's 2008 season. Next year this same exercise will be repeated. Hopefully we will be creating an annual tradition; for each new team to look back at the previous years' for inspiration and guidance.