Since 2022 the now u15 girls' squad at Canterbury eagles have played as a team which is evident in the friendships that have been formed.

Through love of their sport the team has bonded to form a community that not only has a positive effect on their wellbeing but also on their pitch performance.

By getting to know each other the team maintains a high level of teamwork and communication which is evident in their cohesive play style; as striker Eddy Hunt puts it,  “ I feel like if we weren’t friends, we wouldn’t know how each other play.”

His outlook perfectly demonstrates how the level of friendship has allowed the players to learn each others' tendencies and habits when playing - allowing them to play to their full potential as a team.

Whether it is through comforting each other after a loss or celebrating a teammates performance after a win, the team is always supporting each other – contributing to their love of the game.

Support within the team keeps morale high and keeps pressure off the players allowing them to properly enjoy the sport.

When asked how she thought friendship affected the teams play style, centre-back Ellena Duri answered, “I think it affects us by our lovely teamwork and how we always lift each other up when we play our games.” Showing a player's perspective of the support provided by teammates.

Through building friendships within the team, a strong foundation has been built which encourages teamwork, communication and support between the squad members: contributing to strong efforts as a team and helping players to learn to enjoy a sport as both a form of exercise and a social experience to allow them to make friends.