While we all enjoy winning, the importance of playing sports is to teach valuable life skills and lessons. The priority for the Marlins swim team is “Sportsmanship.” What life skills are cultivated through the practice of good sportsmanship?

Respect: Showing consideration and appreciation for others by listening to their input, and efforts. Respectful swimmers create a positive and healthy competitive environment.

Positivity: Being optimistic in the face of challenges. Not letting “I can’t” get in the way of getting it done. Swimmers practice self-compassion and gratitude and always try their best.

Teamwork: Teamwork means that swimmers cooperate with their coach, and cheers on their fellow swim teammates. Teammates work towards a common goal: teamwork.

Humility: Swimmers with humility take success in stride. Swimmers demonstrate respect by giving credit to teammates and acknowledging how each win is made possible by the other swimmers and coaches around them.

Determination: To be determined means to stay focused and exert the best effort in both easy and challenging situations. Swimmers that are determined like the challenge and want to get better at every practice and every meet.

Integrity: To show integrity means to say what you do and mean what you say. A swimmer possessing integrity is dependable both within and beyond the pool.

 Inclusivity: To be inclusive is to bring the team together and treat everyone fairly and equally regardless of diverse backgrounds and abilities. An inclusive swimmer proactively brings people together.

Leadership: A leader encourages other swimmers to perform their best and provides support until they achieve their goals. They model all other characteristics and set a good example for the other swimmers to follow.