What It Means to Swim in the MCSL
By Hannah and Katie Gould.
Like every summer league swimmer, each year we eagerly anticipate the day our neighborhood pool opens. Our summer memories mostly revolve around relaxing by the pool and summer swimming because, for more than half of the season, our weeks are filled with MCSL swim meets and activities. We cannot imagine spending a summer with any other teammates, which got us thinking: What makes one MSCL team “better” than another team in the league? It is not all about winning each meet.
The best teams:
1. Have swimmers show up to meets, regardless of whether they are swimming or not, to cheer.
Going to meets to cheer on your teammates and support your friends is a great way to make your team stronger. Strong team spirit creates a sense of community and helps build lifelong friendships. The strongest teams last for generations because of the bonds formed over the summer.
2. Dress up and go all out for spirits.
Teams without spirit are not teams. Enough said.
3. Support teammates and friends at cross divisional meets (Coaches Long Course or All Stars).
These meets bring together the fastest individuals and relay teams in the county. Additionally, they are a great way to connect with other swimmers that you may not see all the time and also to meet new people.
4. Have prominent and distinguished traditions.
You can find endless traditions throughout the MCSL – pool overnights, pasta dinners, 8 and under tuck-ins, etc. Connecting with your team in and out of the water creates the bonds that bring teams together year after year. The best memories come from participating in these traditions.
We appreciate all of the effort and hard work of the parents, coaches, officials, and volunteers who make the season the best it can be. You make this all possible! Thank you!
5. Crush the opponents.
Thanks, girls! This is spot on. Summer swimming is all about teamwork, spirit, and fun! It’s especially sweet being on a team where you constantly see the 13-14s and 15-18s working with the younger swimmers. Thanks for writing this!
Great job Hannah and Katie! I’d love to see more articles from the two of you.
Great article.
I think Rockville Rays misses the point. Crushing the opposition is good and all but if you aren’t a real team of people who are in it for each other (#1-4) than winning doesn’t mean that much. Real teams are together win or lose and they don’t just show up together 6 Saturday’s a year.
Any pool that accepts daily fee walk-ins really doesn’t count as an MCSL team. RRR has no understanding of the history of the league. The compromise that allowed that team into the league has been regretted for years.
Even for private pools, you have to pay to get in.