Sport as a performance tool for your teams: our padel team building
A sports team building event brings employees closer because it gets them to cooperate outside their usual setting, without hierarchy and around a shared goal. For its latest team building, TAWKR, a face-to-face direct marketing agency based in Lille, chose a padel tournament followed by a dinner at a restaurant. Here is why this format works and how to organise it in your company.
Why sport brings teams together
Sport creates neutral ground. On a court, job titles and departments fade away: everyone plays, misses, laughs and improves on the same level. This break lets people discover their colleagues in a different light.
A sports team building event also encourages:
communication: you have to talk, encourage each other and organise in real time;
mutual support: you make up for your partner's mistakes rather than pointing them out;
collective energy: shared memories fuel team spirit long after the event;
breaking down silos: colleagues who do not work together day to day get to know each other.
These are exactly the qualities you expect from a high-performing team, in the office and in the field.
Padel, an ideal sport for team building
Padel ticks every box of a team cohesion activity:
It is played in pairs. You cannot win alone: cooperation is at the heart of the game.
It is accessible. The rules are simple and beginners enjoy it from the very first rallies.
Levels mix easily. An experienced player and a beginner can form a balanced team.
Matches are short and fast-paced. Ideal for a round-robin tournament where everyone plays several times.
The atmosphere is friendly. The enclosed court and quick rallies create lots of interaction and laughter.
Our team building: a padel tournament followed by a team dinner
For our latest team building, TAWKR's teams met at Padel Horizon in Lomme for a padel tournament. 25 employees took part, in mixed teams across departments, with a group stage followed by a final.
The day carried on in the evening at Le SEPT restaurant, in the heart of the Parc du Septentrion in Marcq-en-Barœul. This second part matters as much as the sport: around the table, conversations continue, tournament stories are retold and bonds grow stronger.
What cohesion changes for our teams
Our business is built on people. Field Experts meet prospects on behalf of brands and charities, while support teams manage campaigns, data and client relationships. These teams do not always work in the same place.
Knowing each other better means working together better: people feel freer to ask a question, share a difficulty or suggest an idea. Sport is a simple way to build these bonds. We chose to make it a regular part of our company culture.
5 tips for a successful sports team building event
Choose a sport everyone can play, such as padel, bowling or orienteering, so nobody feels left out.
Mix the teams across departments and levels, rather than letting everyone play with their usual colleagues.
Plan a role for those who do not play: referee, supporter, photographer or scoreboard keeper.
Add a social moment after the activity: a meal or a drink keeps the conversations going.
Collect feedback from participants to improve the format from one edition to the next.
FAQ : sports team building and corporate padel
Why organise a sports team building event?
A sports team building event strengthens cohesion because it gets employees to cooperate outside their usual setting, around a shared goal. It improves communication, mutual support and a sense of belonging.
Is padel suitable for team building?
Yes. Padel is played in pairs, its rules are simple and beginners improve quickly. It makes it easy to mix levels and encourages lots of interaction between teammates.
Do you need to know how to play padel to take part?
No. Padel is one of the most accessible racket sports. A short warm-up or an introduction session from the club is enough for everyone to play.
How do you organise a corporate padel tournament?
Book courts at a club, form teams of two by mixing departments and levels, run short groups followed by a final, and plan a social moment after the tournament, such as a team dinner.
What is the link between team cohesion and performance?
A team that knows each other communicates more easily, supports each other more and solves problems faster. Cohesion makes day-to-day coordination easier, in the office and in the field.
How do you include employees who do not want to play sport?
Give them an active role: refereeing, hosting, keeping the scoreboard or taking photos. The social moment after the activity also lets everyone take part in their own way.
Conclusion
Le sport n'est pas qu'un loisir : bien choisi et bien organisé, il devient un véritable outil de cohésion et de performance pour vos équipes. Notre tournoi de padel, prolongé par un dîner d'équipe, en est la preuve vécue.
Envie de rejoindre une équipe qui joue collectif, au bureau comme sur le terrain ? Découvrez nos offres sur la page Carrières
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