Co-Creating a Community Contract or Team Contract
Channel: Girls Leadership
Date: 2023-03-15

How to co-create a community contract with youth in a classroom or create a team contract**

Intro (Ignite) - 3 mins
Share the Community Contract in a space where everyone can see (either in big print at the front of the space or in handouts for everyone to read). Online use a tool like Jamboard or Padlet.

Popcorn out the Community Contract points that the group decided upon.

Have students reflect on their contribution to upholding the Community Contract by holding up their fingers using the protocol.

Fist-to-Five Protocol:
5 = I always uphold these points and hold others accountable.
4 = I usually uphold these points.
3 = I sometimes uphold these points, but I’m inconsistent.
2 = I uphold some of these points sometimes, but I struggle with most of them.
1 = I don’t really uphold these points.
Fist = I disagree with these points entirely.
Activity (Chunk/Chew) - 10-20 mins
For a routine check-in: 10 min
Have students get together in small groups (3-5) and share out with each other which points on the contract they uphold most consistently, and which they might be struggling with and why.

Ask them to determine if any new points need to be added or current points should be changed in order to uphold the community we need and expect.

Have groups share out their conclusions. Facilitator scribe if necessary.

Fist-to-Five protocol for deciding on any new contract points.

For welcoming new members: 15 min
Have students get together in small groups (3-5) ensuring that new members are included in groups with members who have been a part of the creating process.

Have current members explain the process they went through to come up with the contract, and allow new members to ask clarifying questions, note any areas of confusion or tension, and get examples of what these points look like in action.

Have groups determine if new points need to be added or current points should be changed in order to accommodate the needs and expectations of new members.

Have groups share out their conclusions. Facilitator scribe if necessary.

Fist-to-Five protocol for deciding on any new contract points.

For norming after an incident (or, when community culture feels like it’s shifting or slipping): 20 min
Facilitator bring to attention the facts of the incident what has been noticed in the space (just the “what”). Ask whole group which contract points may have been violated.

In pairs, have students share what feelings may have come up around this. 

Facilitator: Recognize that this contract is a way to hold ourselves accountable to each other, and we also need to recognize that mistakes happen, behavior can change, we can heal and move forward as a group. Possibility here for any students involved to offer a way to repair harm or recognize a mistake they made.

In small groups, have students discuss what might need to happen to restore the community in this space. Do new contract points need to be added to the agreement? Is there a way we can hold each other lovingly accountable to our high expectations?

Have groups share out ideas.

Use Fist-to-Five protocol to come to decisions.

Closure (Review) - 2 mins
Whip around: Stand in a circle where everyone can see each other. Have each student share out one word or feeling they have after this check-in today.


**Here's how to create a team contract for coaches and athletic directors: Early (within the first three times of getting together) in the sports season, give your players the opportunity to share what they need, expect and can offer to the team. Getting specific is key. When players say that they want respect, ask them what this looks like for them. The answer might be different for each player, especially if you have a diverse team. The other essential is conflict. Get clear on how you will handle it when the agreement is broken. This provides a foundation for players to show up authentically, as their full selves. When you co-create team contracts, you center the voices and needs of all your players; the culture of the team comes from them.