5 Reasons to Thank Your Team Manager

Photo Courtesy: Christa Weaver

By Chandler Brandes, Swimming World College Intern.

‘Tis the season for showing gratitude, and swimmers and divers have a lot to be thankful for.

From coaches who work tirelessly to help us reach our goals to teammates who keep us sane, the list goes on and on, and there are even plenty of things we forget to be thankful for.

But I want to take the time to thank one person who often flies under the radar despite being a crucial part of the team: the team manager.

Here are 5 reasons why you should thank your team manager:

1. Organizational skills.

Photo Courtesy: Brian Jenkins-UVM Athletics

I swim for a very large team, and organizing our travel plans, meals, meet prep, filming our races, etc. is a lot for one person to handle. Working with our coaches, our team manager makes sure everything is smooth-sailing. Along with the coaches, the team manager does a lot of the behind-the-scenes prep work that is crucial to creating a successful team.

2. Learning our sport.

Photo Courtesy: Brian Jenkins-UVM Athletics

Unfortunately, swimming and diving are two sports that many people don’t take the time to learn or understand, let alone come out and watch. Taking the job knowing nothing about the sport, my team manager made an effort to learn the ins and outs. The determination of her trying to understand a sport that even confuses us sometimes is simply humbling.

3. Showing compassion.

Photo Courtesy: Kelly Lennon

Although our beloved team manager might not understand all there is to know about our sport, she does know how to relate to us and can lighten the mood during a close meet or after a bad race. At one of our meets, our manager put on one of our racing suits, and if a non-swimmer is willing to put on a Fastskin for fun, you know they must really, really care.

4. Most-spirited.

Photo Courtesy: Brian Jenkins-UVM Athletics

The positivity brought both on and off the pool deck is contagious, and our team manager is often times more excited about our races than we are. Whether it’s being decked out in our school colors or busting out a dance move, our team manager can always put a smile on our faces and never fails to make us laugh. Win or lose, she is always our number one fan.

5. Being part of the family.

Photo Courtesy: Christa Weaver

While our team manager may not have to endure grueling practices like us (lucky you!), she is just as much part of the team as anyone else is and truly completes our family. Team managers: on behalf of swimming and diving teams everywhere, thank you; our teams wouldn’t be the same without you.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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Julie Liegel Miller

7 years ago

Kaitlyn Miller

Olivia Lepor

7 years ago

Julia Salazar

7 years ago

Reply to Olivia Lepor

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