⚽️🏆 Soccer Showdown
Kick off this soccer-inspired retro! Let’s dribble through our project wins, tackle blockers, and set up goals for improvement—teamwork makes champions. Ready to play the agile way?
Template Columns
🌬️ Forward Passes (Wind)
Highlight the plays and team moves that advanced us toward our project goal.
Base column: Wind⚓️ Defensive Blocks (Anchors)
Point out fouls, challenges, or yellow cards that slowed progress on the field.
Base column: Anchors🥅 Set Pieces (Actions)
Plan the winning shots: practical actions and strategies to score in our next sprint.
Base column: ActionsAbout this template
Soccer Showdown is a dynamic retrospective that uses a soccer theme to help teams celebrate progress, address roadblocks, and set actionable goals for improvement.
When to use this template
Use this format after fast-paced sprints, big releases, or when your team needs an engaging, collaborative reflection on both wins and obstacles.
How to facilitate
Start with a high-energy welcome and explain the soccer theme, connecting each column to its soccer analogy.
Invite everyone to share recent team achievements and positive moments in the 'Forward Passes' column to celebrate what's moving the team forward.
Encourage frank but constructive discussion of blockers and setbacks in 'Defensive Blocks,' focusing on situations and processes rather than individuals.
Guide the team to brainstorm solutions and specific next steps in 'Set Pieces,' making sure actions are clear, realistic, and assigned ownership.
Review all input together and facilitate prioritization of the most impactful action items for the next sprint.
Close with a team check-out, asking each member to share one key takeaway or motivation heading into the next 'match.'
Pro Tips
Use sport-inspired language and visuals to boost engagement and help your team see challenges in a fresh light.
Encourage quick, popcorn-style sharing during each column to maintain momentum and keep everyone involved.
Wrap up by celebrating a 'player of the sprint'—someone who embodied great teamwork or agile values.
Review actions from the last retrospective at the start, reinforcing continuity and progress.
FAQ
What if team members aren't sports fans?
Keep the focus on the teamwork and goals rather than deep soccer knowledge. The theme is there to make the process fun and memorable, not to exclude anyone.
How do we ensure that action items are actually completed?
Assign a clear owner and deadline for each action during the session, then start future retros by reviewing progress on previous actions.
How can we keep the session from becoming negative during the blockers discussion?
Encourage constructive wording and focus on systemic challenges. Remind the team that sharing blockers leads to improvement, just like analyzing a team's defense in soccer.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Wind, Anchors, Actions
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective