Fridays– a day for good food, good friends, and good moods. Each Friday, the cross country team has a party to fuel their bodies and create good team bonds. At the last pasta party, the girls created shirts that they will wear to practice or on the bus ride to a race.
“I love pasta parties! They are really fun because you get to eat tons of food with your friends,” said Kiri Basher, 9.
Each week, the party is held at a different member of the teams home. Parents or athlete hosts cook the pasta and supply the saucy meatballs for the feast. Other parts of the dinner– fruit, bread, and dessert– are supplied by other members of the team.
“One thing that is great about having other people bring multiple elements of the pasta party is that it doesn’t overwhelm the host. Supplying their house for our party is really nice, and I’m glad we can all be helpful,” said Josey Leach, 11.
There are many other elements that make a pasta party such a great time for athletes; A few of these elements are yard games, trampolines, and occasionally pools. It is easy for the girls to use these tools to create a welcoming and accepting environment for all the team.
“At first, I was a bit intimidated by a few of my teammates. After going to the first pasta party, I realized that I didn’t have to be. Everyone is really cool and made me feel comfortable,” said Jade Stella, 9.
With food, fun, and friends it is hard to have a bad time. These events are great for team bonding and creating an environment that allows every person to be themselves. The team atmosphere is created this way.