As I entered the arena I looked down and saw my t-shirt and shorts. I look across the arena and I see the other team wearing a button up dress shirt and pants. I can’t help but feel appalled at the fact that my team would ever want to present themselves so informally. I started to wonder, is this how every sport is?

Most High schools’, junior, and minor-pro teams have some form of dress code that covers what is and isn’t to be worn to games. Dress codes for teams are seen as a way of bringing team unity and cohesion together. Even at a young age kids were taught how to dress and present themselves from watching sports and from the looks of others.

“Even when we were ten years old we had to wear a shirt and tie, which we should be doing more now.” said Junior Owen Faron.

If I were to see a team walking in the arena or into the locker room in a suit I would be a little intimidated, versus a team showing up to their game looking unprepared in a hoodie and shorts. From my experience I would say it’s very professional, the structure of teams and their appearance are main keys that play into how professional a team can seem like.

Some guys were wearing jeans with holes in them, John Tortorella said NHL Vancouver Canucks Head Coach. “I thought we looked like slobs. You say casual to these guys, and they’ll push it right to the limit.” said Plainfiled Varsity Hockey Coach Bob Kimball. It also says in the NHL (National Hockey League) and NFL (National Football League)  in the handbook reads, Exhibit 14, Paragraph 5: “Players are required to wear jackets, ties and dress pants to all Club games and while traveling to and from such games unless otherwise specified by the Head Coach or General Manager.”

Knowing that, my hockey team used to present themselves in casual clothing like a Hoodie and Shorts. I’ve brought my team together to change their mentality. I’ve convinced my team to show them that we can be professional by being good, and looking good. I talked to individuals and motivated them to change their thoughts. We’ve came together as a team and we’re growing as a team together along with making our team look presentable Chicagoland wide.

I’ve noticed as teams develop over the year, some get classy and some get nasty. For example; teams go on twitter before and after games smack-talking for no reason, making themselves and their team look unprofessional. Why would you talk back to someone without knowing if you lost or won?

Personally, I think it’s pointless to trash talk before a game. It’s just making you look bad as an individual and also if you’re presenting your team badly. Now if you were to win, your team and you are already better than them and above them. There’s never a need to act unclassy whether you win or lose, you should always stay professional.

Not all teams show up to games prepared, players show up late, miss practices and all of these things are noticeable. On the other hand there are some teams that are prepared, by doing team warmups, and discussing gameplay.

Not much teams anymore have that one person who is just die hard for the game, not one person who is willing to do anything for their team, from playing hard to being professionals off the ice. Teams need these type of people this is what makes a team who they are and who they look up to.