8 Ways to Thank Your Teammates
Teammates are special people. We spend hours of our weeks throughout the year with them, during long meet weekends and long practices. They are there to pick us up after hard races and hard days at school and work. Teammates are some of the most important people within our lives. Since we are getting close to Thanksgiving, here are a few ways to show your teammates that you appreciate them.
Bring Them Food
A language every swimmer speaks. Food is a common form of appreciation in many cultures. The act of putting effort into making someone’s favorite meal, or giving them and their loved ones a sweet treat does a lot for showing appreciation. Better yet, bring a snack for the whole team to enjoy after practice!
Leave a Positive Note On Their Swim Bag
Even small reminders that your teammates are doing good work throughout the long season can do wonders for repaying them with gratitude. Sticky notes on the bag remind your teammates that you are thinking of them and that they are doing a great job. Though it is simple, it shows a lot of thought and helps motivation.
Make a Swim Meet Goodie Bag
Who doesn’t love good swim meet snacks? Gift bags that have some swim meet snacks and essentials can help boost team morale. It is a way of ensuring that your teammates have everything they need to get through the day. A note of encouragement within these bags can also give a personalized touch to this appreciation gesture.
Show Up Ready To Work and Have Fun
Sometimes you don’t have to give material things to show appreciation. Showing up to practice every day on time and ready to work repays your teammates for their energy. Respecting the work environment and also having fun while working will make all of the work more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Make Them a Sign
Knowing your teammates are there to cheer for you can help build the energy of races. Signs can be that extra personal touch within the stands that show your support and wish for each other’s success. Making signs can even be a team bonding event, where everyone makes signs to show appreciation for each other.
Send a Text Message
Sometimes teammates do small things for us like donate a suit when we forget ours at home or remind us of upcoming deadlines for swim meet registration. Sending a text message at the end of the day thanking them for the help means a lot even if it doesn’t take a lot of time. Even texting them after a meet congratulating them on their work can also help their boost confidence.
Reciprocate Actions
When a teammate does something nice for you, the best way to show appreciation is to pay it forward to another. It shows that you appreciated their kindness so much that you wanted to give that to another. Contributing to the team culture and being the best teammate you can be is an effective way of showing appreciation.
Just Say Thank You
Sometimes saying a verbal thank you is enough. Letting them know that you see and recognize their actions shows a lot of appreciation. Verbal affirmations can sometimes be hard, but taking a simple moment to let someone know how much they have impacted you will make not only their day, but their year.
What are ways you say thank you to your teammates? Let us know!