6 “Modern Family” Quotes That Apply To Your Swim Family

By Remedy Rule, Swimming World College Intern 

Time and time again, swimmers refer to their team as family – coaches as parental figures, teammates as unrelated siblings. With varying personalities, different maturity levels, diverse backgrounds, and distinct skills – sprint breaststrokers, milers, IMers, etc., a swim team does not fall into the cookie cutter “traditional” family; a swim team is a modern family.

“Modern Family“, a mock documentary television show, follows three interrelated families encountering everyday struggles in their own uniquely comedic ways. Their portrayal of the modern family relates to the swim family.

Here are six “Modern Family” quotes that apply to swimming…

1. “There are dreamers and there are realists in this world. . . You see, the dreamers need the realists to keep them from soaring too close to the sun. And the realists, well without the dreamers, they might not ever get off the ground.” -Cameron Tucker

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

A mix of different abilities and mentalities exists in the most successful teams. The best medley relays consist of four swimmers excelling in their individual strokes. In the best coach-swimmer duos, the coach’s strengths compensate the swimmer’s shortcomings and vice versa. For example, a talented swimmer that lacks confidence needs a supportive coach to help her accomplish something greater than she thought previously possible. On the other hand, a swimmer dreaming of making the Olympic Team needs a practical coach to guide him on the path to success.

2. “What’s my coaching philosophy? Give a kid a bird and he becomes one of those weird dudes that walks around with a bird on his shoulder. But give him a pair of wings? He can fly. . . ” -Phil Dunphy

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

What’s better: being given a ribbon claiming you’ve won (even though you haven’t) or finishing into the wall at your championship meet (after hours of practice accompanied by setbacks and sacrifices) and the board boasts a one next to your name? Personally, I prefer the second one, hands down. The process you undertake to achieve your goals fosters much more growth than handouts. You will learn about determination, perseverance, and willpower. These characteristics apply to more than just swimming; they’re your “wings” that will allow you to “fly” in other aspects of life.

3. “Buddy, don’t ever close yourself off of new things. Have I ever told you the story about crab cakes? Thought I didn’t like them, tried them, loved them.” -Jay Pritchett

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports Images

Permitting yourself to experience something unknown requires vulnerability. The stroke change you’ve been avoiding might give you that edge to out touch your competitors. The social transition from club to a college team you’ve been worrying about may eventually lead to you becoming a future bridesmaid or groomsman. Although change tends to be initially more difficult, the results can be significantly rewarding.

4. “. . . [E]very time anyone accomplishes anything he or she achieves it with the help of a thousand silent heroes, the selfless team players who offer their support, not to be recognized, but because it’s the right thing to do.” -Alex Dunphy

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

What binds a team so close together that it influences an individual to sacrifice for the whole? The bond originates from the practices that cause you to forget about the rest of the world. The type that brings tears to your eyes and you want to give up on. But then, you get to the wall and you see your teammates. You see all the people that you have struggled and cried and triumphed with. You finish the set because of them. And when you finally accomplish your goals, even if you are standing alone on the podium, your band of support is always around you.

5. “There’s all kinds of milestones in life. The kind you expect to live through. . . first kiss, birthdays, graduations. . . And then there’s the kind you never dream you’d get to live through again. And that’s the best kind of all.” -Jay Pritchett 

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

From blowing bubbles to diving off the blocks, from earning a ‘AA’ time standard to making the Olympic Team, you can find milestones present in all levels of swimming. There’s some you expect: best times every time you dive into the pool as a 10 year old or surviving winter break training. And then there’s some you don’t expect: crushing your personal best after recovering from the flu or smashing your weights max after overcoming an injury. Completed milestones reflect your journey in swimming.

6. “Family is family. Whether it’s the one you start out with, the one you end up with, or the family you gain along the way.” -Gloria Delgado-Pritchett

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports Images

From modest beginnings in swim lessons to summer league, club, high school, collegiate, and national swim teams, the swimming community is a family. Swim lessons brought you into the swim family. Summer league introduced you to the thrill of competing and belonging to a team. Club bred that love/hate relationship with swimming. High school transformed classmates into teammates. Collegiate assembled individuals with common goals. National united a country to compete at the highest level. Whether it’s the team you started with, your current team, or the teams you’ve been a part of along the way, the swim family is family.