The 3 Respects of Athletics

On how to be a team. Shorewood-style.

Every action you make as an athlete impacts the team as a whole, be it positive or negative. A self-less athlete learns from the actions that bring negative consequences, and repeats the actions that create a positive impact on the team. A selfish athlete does not learn from their actions, but simply revels in their own glory. The team is always bigger than the individual, without the individual there is no team. Without a team, an athlete competes for no benefit but their own.

A Shorewood athlete exudes excellence in the classroom and on the field of competition. Easy thing to say for the classroom, quality of education is of the utmost importance to this school, but how does a Shorewood athlete begin to find excellence in competition? This search begins with a self-less attitude and ends with respect. The 3 Respects of Athletics must be sought out in order to find excellence. Respect for the Coach, Respect for the Team, and Respect for the Individual.

To respect the coach, the coach must be thoroughly defined. A coach is a human being dealt the role of athletic facilitator, or of being a leader. A leader who's job, is to create a constructive atmosphere in which learning of a sport occurs. A coach has a distinct set of experience and education from which arises the foundation of their coaching philosophy. In order for a coach to be, there must also be an athlete. A coach is a teacher and the athlete their student. Listen, then act. That is the role of the student. To question only and as often as it is necessary to fully understand the sport. A coach respects the athlete as the athlete respects the coach.

To respect the team, the team must be defined. A team is a collection of human beings similar in age, diverse in personality, and selfless in nature. Each individual human being carries a unique set of goals, beliefs, philosophies, and experiences. A team carries but one goal, belief, and philosophy. The individual of a team finds strength in acting rightly to achieve the team goal. To act rightly one must find respect for the team, and then act on it.

To respect the individual, the individual must be defined. The self, I, me, but most importantly you. You have a unique personality. You have a specific set of beliefs and philosophies. You are the only human being to have experienced every second of your existence. You are the key to a successful team. You find patience and control in always giving your maximum effort. You trust that your coach will teach what is necessary to maximize your potential, as you trust your team will give as much effort in every practice and in every competition as you do, and the only way you know this effort will be given by the entire team is to always give your maximum effort.

You will find excellence yourself when you

respect your coach, respect your team, respect yourself and always act selflessly.

The team goal is to:

be the best possible team, at the WIAA Regional Meet.

The team belief is:

to be the best possible team, everyone must give maximum effort at every practice and every competition.

The team philosophy is:

everyone must always strive to have no regrets.

Set 3 achievable goals based around The 3 Respects of Athletics, The team goal belief and philosophy, and being a self-less teammate.

Setting an achievable goals means asking yourself, what are you going to do to guarantee the success of the team. Be creative and get complex, or be insightful and stay simple. Be honest and use the writings above to guide you or ask a teammate or a coach.