Being a Team Player

From the outside, swimming looks like an "individual sport," mostly individual events, and not much need for a close, interconnected team.  But, unless you train and compete by yourself, that is quite the opposite.  A swimmer has a coach and a team full of other swimmers.  A team wins swim meets by a combined score of all the points scored in each event, and relays win by four people coming together, swimming fast, and grabbing first place.  This to me, looks like "team" is greatly incorporated into the sport of swimming.

Since swimming is a team sport, below are some ways to make sure you are not only an individual swimmer, but also a team player.

• Talk to your coach
•  Get to know your coach and let him get to know you.  Communicate your goals and listen to his goals that he has for you, along with his goals for the team.  Communication is key to a solid coach- swimmer relationship.
• Get to know every person on your team
• Not just your lane mates, everyone.  Find the roster online, and send Facebook friend requests out.  Talk to everyone while hanging out before practice.  Introduce yourself, ask about interests, be friendly-- after all, these people will be your teammates all season, why not make them your friends too? :)
• Host team events
• Encourage team bonding by hosting a pasta party or movie night.  It's a great way for everyone to mingle outside of the pool.
• Go to team events
• if you're not hosting the event, make sure you attend.  Attendance is key during a team event.  The more people there, the more teammates to talk to and hang out with.
• Cheer for everyone
• Cheer for all of your teammates at a swim meet, not just your best friend.  Learn all of your teammates' names and cheer them on in their events! :)
• Be happy
• Spread the cheer!  Be positive and encouraging, and hopefully, it'll spread!  Create a positive team spirit.

So, go to practice and be a team player.  Be positive and swim fast, well, and swiftly! :)