I just spent another long, busy weekend with my daughter's skating team. It gave me lots of opportunities to see teamwork and sportsmanship in action. Traveling as a team is a big reminder that athletes are only part of the equation. Coaches, parents, grandparents, and wonderful bus drivers are all essential to helping the team succeed. Our team's bus drivers are so loyal that they have their own team jackets, sit in the stands to watch the competition, and even take hundreds of pictures that they then give back to the skaters! The head coach reminds the girls every day that when they are wearing those team jackets, they are representing the team and need to behave accordingly.
My daughter's team placed second, a nice jump for their seventh-place finish two weeks ago. They worked very hard to learn a changed program and skate it clean, but they also know they have to keep working if they expect to do well in next month's competition--because every other team will be doing the same.
Congrats to everyone! Teamwork is so important and the support of friends and family is just part of the whole team thing! Yay!