If you’re looking for a fresh, new way to promote your company, build employee loyalty, and have fun, then we’ve got a great idea for you. Start a company sports team! It really doesn’t matter which sport you pick; you can go old school with a baseball team or try something different like corn hole or a trivia team.
This is an old idea that’s new again as people are realizing the incredible benefits that can come from a little competitive sporting between local companies. When you see how many layers of advantages there are, you’re going to want to order your corporate team t-shirts right away. And that’s great because I’m here to help you get started. Just connect with me at rushIMPRINT when you’re done reading and we’ll get the ball rolling.
Why You Should Start a Corporate Sports Team
This is one of those lightbulb moment, so get ready. If you’re not already sponsoring a corporate team, this is your year. The dramatic changes you can see from inside and outside your company are so worth the extra effort.
1. Marketing
It’s all about marketing in a lot of ways. The first thing you’ll want to do is order some team gear (check out our suggestions below for some great starting ideas). This gets your company name out there and makes you very visible. It may also introduce an entirely new audience to your business.
It’s probably best to select a sport(s) that will go over well with your employees but that doesn’t mean you can’t consider where your audience will be. Some sports play well with different audiences, and thinking about your customer base might help guide some of your decisions.
2. All Work and Fun
Break up the drudgery of the workday for your employees by offering them a new perspective on their employer and their co-workers. Yes, talk of the game last night will bleed into their hours at work but this makes work more fun and builds strong relationships.
Not only is having visible fun good for your staff, but the outside world sees your team playing together and enjoying themselves and this creates a great reputation for your company.
3. Employee Engagement
If you own a business or are in management, odds are that you’ve heard a lot about employee engagement over the last couple years, especially with the big resignation. Employee engagement is the golden ticket in the workplace these days and a sports team is a great way to get employees engaged.
Not only are you building a positive rapport with your employees and the company, but you’re encouraging their teamwork abilities in a way that is appealing to them. So many corporate teamwork exercises in the office are met with eye rolls and minimal effort. A sports team is different because you’re not making them do something they don’t want to do; you’re offering them the chance to do something they enjoy. Big difference.
4. More Effective Workers
Get this, if your employees from different branches or divisions of your company learn to work together as a team while playing – they’re also going to be able to do it during work. In fact, they’ll have worked out the kinks and know how to better communicate with each other, feel more comfortable together, and inefficiencies will be sidelined as they develop a winning attitude.
Even a losing sports team learns a lot about how to work together, maybe even more than a winning one because they understand how to pick each other up. And, hopefully, you’re stressing the fun aspect over the winning one, which makes this a great experience all around – even for the other teams.
5. Community Involvement
It’s not just the employees that you want to see engaged, you want to show that you’re a part of the community. This is your chance to break out of the factory or office building and enter the community as a team that’s positive and ready to have fun.
Often, team sports have charity events to raise money for different causes in the community. This is your chance to get out there and be a part of those activities too. It can also introduce your employees and management to different aspects of life in your region that you weren’t aware of before. And remember, you’re marketing and selling your brand the entire time.
Game Gear for a Company Sports Team
Are you ready to start ordering gear for your corporate team? It isn’t just about getting them the right gear for their sport, it’s also about putting your brand and company name out there for everyone to see. Internally, you want to support your employees who are ready to step up and play (or be spectators) and swag is always a winning solution.
Team T-Shirts
Obviously, you’ll need some sort of garment to identify the team. This sets them apart from other competitors, but it also builds unity. Starting off with a short-sleeve sports tee is typically a good idea but it all depends on the sport you select.
Team Hats
Another great option that goes well with the team tee is a team hat. There are many options from simple sun visors, traditional baseball caps, to beanies for cooler weather.
This is something that you might want to consider offering to everyone in the company, whether they play or not, or something you hand out to your staff that shows up to cheer the team to victory. It’s important to encourage spectators, too.
Athletic Jackets
Deciding to order corporate athletic jackets is a big step in the right direction because this is one of those items that your employees will really appreciate and will probably wear even when it’s not game day – meaning more walking advertising everywhere they go. We’ll admit, it can be an investment, but good marketing always is.
Sports Bags
What better way to haul all of their corporate sports gear than in a team and company branded sports bag? We love this idea because it’s a quality product that’s very useful and will be on display with that ever-present company logo.
More Gear for Spectators
Having people in the stands rooting for your team is almost as important as having the team itself. If the spectators are employees, this is fantastic because it encourages teamwork even if they’re not playing. If family members come, this boosts your company standing in the community and strengthens relationships all around.
So, what do you get for the spectators? We have a huge selection of awesome company team spirit sporting accessories. You can get the ubiquitous foam finger, a glow-in-the-dark megaphone, big logo fans, hand clappers, seat cushions, and more.
Have you picked your team’s name yet? Once you’ve decided on your sport and team name, it’s time to give us a call at (866) 277-RUSH (7874) or pop over to our website for a live chat and we’ll start your company team gear order. It couldn’t be any easier and you’re going to love what happens when your company plays together as a team.
Danielle is one of our most popular customer services representatives and has boundless enthusiasm for helping others. She brings that level of excitement to her blogs and is always excited to share the latest info and newest products. If you’re looking for inspiration for your next promotion, check out her posts.