“A host of studies indicates that humor creates positive group effects… Researchers have developed a general view that effective humor can increase the quantity and quality of group communications. One reason for that is that humor has also been demonstrated to increase trust… In order to produce positive mental effects, however, humor must first be considered funny to the people involved, not seen as demeaning, derogatory, or put-downs. Successful group humor should affirm group identities in terms of: who we are, what we are doing, and how we do things.” –

From Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries by Peter Sims

“Coach is always so serious. Coach never smiles. Coach can’t take/make a joke.” Ever hear an athlete say anything like that? Well, if so there’s a good chance that the coach and their team is not benefiting from the value of humor. As Sims explains in his book about creativity, groups that laugh together bond together.

A key within this passage is noting that group humor should be uplifting, not putting others within the team down in some way. Tearing someone down, especially publicly, isn’t the way to build unity. A friend of mine who runs a large training facility does a joke of the week every Wednesday on social media. Are they corny? Often. Eye-rolling? Yes. Make me smile? More often than not.

As coaches we need to find the humor in things. It’s okay to laugh at ourselves and with others in our group, for the right reasons, of course. Make efforts to bring laughter into practices. Try a little humor. According to research, it’ll go a long way in developing team cohesion and improving communication.