COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

This is NOT just another handout. It expresses an attitude. Every time you put on that warm-up or cap or suit, you inherit these characteristics, whether you are a State Championship qualifier or a JV swimmer/diver. This is not a set of rules and regulations. This is a the tradition which has come to exemplify our TEAM. It symbolizes the pride which has developed over many years of COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE!

Now it is up to you to continue the tradition. Our swimmers and divers...

Cheers on teammates
Gets ready for competitions physically (stretches, etc.)
Gets ready for competitions mentally (visualizing, etc.)
Warms up properly at meets and practices
Participates in team cheers at meets or organizes cheers at meets
Finds a way to get over, under, around or through the wall of fatigue
Gets out of and stays out of the comfort zone for long periods of time
Makes positive comments at practices
Takes any negative comment about their hard work as a compliment and revels in it. Works harder because of it.
Takes any positive comment about their hard work as a compliment and works harder because of it.
Knows when to push and when to back off
Has a race/competition plan
Has a season plan
Sets goals for the season
Sets intermediate goals for the season
Sets short range goals for the season

Always looks forward, not behind
Respects teammates, don't cut them down
Is aggressive mentally
After making the choice of COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, makes the right choices that follow
Is ready to train hard and smart on good days and bad days
Communicates with their coach about injuries immediately and then does the proper steps to heal the injury
Helps clean up after practices (equipment, flags, lane lines, mats, etc.)
Respects ALL coaches on th coaching staff and any coach for another team
Becomes a leader of this team in and out of the pool. Realizes their role within the team
Showcases class and respect throughout the school day
Takes an active role in their own swimming/diving career
Participates in meets and realizes something positive can come out of any meet
Takes stroke/diving mechanics seriously because they must be efficient to succeed

Has the attitude: "I can and I will"
Is happy to see the coach's face
Shows good sportsmanship at all times...Even if other teams aren't
Shakes the hand of a competitor after a race/dive
Congratulates the competition on a good race/dive...Even if they beat you.
Takes responsibility for their swimming/diving (practices, meets, season, career, etc.)
Sees the correlation between practice and success at meets
Makes a commitment to the team
Makes a commitment to excellence
Takes control of their schedule
Believes in oneself
Believes in their coach
Believes in our team
Communicates with their coach
Takes pride in turns, starts, workouts (diving - approaches)
Keeps head high after a poor swim/dive
Gives 100% of what they have that day at practices or meets
Participates in shaking hands with opposing team and the end of the meet
Participates in a team cheer for opposing team at the end of the meet.