Teammates are a lot of things: athletes, students, hard workers, cheap therapists, friends, and a makeshift family. Like anyone else in our lives, they do a lot for us, and we should probably say thank you to our teammates, for being who they are, and putting up with who we are. From one teammate to another, here are 20 things we should say thanks for.
1. Sacrificing your hair ties.
They're a hot commodity, and someone always needs one.
2. Sharing your deodorant.
For all you non-athletes, it's not weird; it's a sign of true friendship.
3. Dealing with emotional outbursts.
Anger, crying, anxiety, etc. Athletes are emotional people.
4. Trying as a whole to lighten the mood when coach is grumpy.
It's not easy, and must be done carefully.
5. Holding in the collective groan when coach says, "Get on the endline."
We all know that would just make it worse.
6.Trying your hardest when coach says, "This is the last one if everyone makes it."
Suddenly the team is filled with Olympic track stars, and it's awesome.
7. Not laughing at coach's mistakes when he/she is in a bad mood.
It's hard, but you guys manage.
8. Laughing at coach's bad jokes to cheer him/her up.
And believe me, there are quite a few... but it helps.
9. Not judging when there are spontaneous dance parties in the locker room.
We're athletes, not professional dancers.
10. Knowing when to (and when not to) blow up the Group Text.
Don't want to be woken up super early, and you guys know it.
11. Knowing when someone isn't having a good day, and working hard to cheer them up.
That's what true teammates do.
12. Knowing that every day isn't someone's best day at practice, and accepting that mistakes happen.
It's not easy, but no one is perfect.
13. Pushing each other to improve.
We all want to win, and sometimes you have to give each other a little push.
14. Picking each other up after a hard loss.
Sometimes that means just sitting in silence, but you guys get that.
15. Not rolling your eyes (too much) when coach says, "Do it again."
Usually not the best sentence, but we make it through.
16. Trying to have a good attitude at a bad practice.
Some days practice sucks. But a good attitude helps everything.
17. Putting in work outside of practice.
Can someone say, "We want to win?"
18. Making quotes from bad movies and videos a natural part of conversation, and everyone getting the reference.
We really know how to throw the other team off.
19. Being a part of the team.
It's hard work, but you guys pull it off.
20. Being a family.
Not everyone gets along all the time, but we sure are a tight group of people.
