Friendship 101: Simple Ways to Show Up
Working with kids every day has given me a front row seat to something really important: friendships matter more than we sometimes realize.
At the gym, friendships are forming constantly between teammates, training partners, and kids who might not even know each other before practice. Some of the most beautiful moments I see aren’t just when an athlete lands a skill, but when a teammate cheers the loudest for them.
But I’ve also noticed something over the years.
A lot of kids today are still learning how to be good friends. And honestly, it makes sense. With so much time spent behind screens, iPads, and social media, kids don’t always get the same opportunities to practice real-life friendship skills the way earlier generations did.
The good news is that being a great friend isn’t complicated. In fact, the best friendships are usually built on a few simple things.
Here are some of the most important lessons I try to teach the kids in my life.
1. Show Up for People
Being a good friend starts with something simple: being there.
That might look like:
cheering for your teammate when they’re nervous
sitting next to someone who feels left out
texting a friend good luck before a big game or competition
celebrating someone else’s win
When someone knows you’re in their corner, it makes all the difference.
2. Be the Friend You Want to Have
One of the easiest ways to build great friendships is to ask yourself a simple question:
“Am I being the kind of friend I would want?”
Do you listen?
Do you encourage people?
Do you celebrate their successes without jealousy?
The energy we give in friendships usually comes back to us.
Kindness, loyalty, and encouragement have a way of creating stronger relationships.
3. Put the Phone Down
This one might be the most important.
Technology is amazing, but it can also make it easy to miss the people sitting right in front of us.
Some of the best friendships are built through simple moments:
talking in the car after practice
laughing during team warm-ups
celebrating a win together
supporting each other through a tough day
Those connections happen when we’re present, not distracted.
Sometimes being a great friend simply means putting the phone down and paying attention.
Friendship doesn’t have to be complicated.
Show up.
Encourage people.
Be present.
The strongest friendships aren’t built through perfect moments—they’re built through small, everyday acts of kindness and support.
And if there’s one thing I hope the kids I coach carry with them beyond the gym, it’s this:
Being a great friend is one of the most powerful things you can be.
