How To Join Tnca Team?

I want to join my High School Swin team, but I'm REALLY nervous?

• I'm a junior in high school, and I want to join my high school swim team, but I'm a little nervous and scared. You don't have to try out, the only requirement is that you know 3 out of 4 of the strokes. I'm a lifeguard and I know all of the basic strokes, but the only ones I'm really good at are freestyle and backstroke. I'm not fast, naturally athletic, or a particularly good swimmer. I didn't start really swimming until last year when I was becoming a lifeguard. I've been swimming with a coach for about 3 months, but not on a team. My whole life I've played team sports like volleyball, basketball, softball, etc. I'm afraid I will be laughed at (my breast stroke is particularly awful). The reason I want to join is because my boss (pool manager) suggested I join swim team because it would increase my confidence as a guard, and I don't play those team sports any more so I decided it's time for a change. What can I expect? (I'm satisfied with JV) (Right now I only swim for about 3 days a week, very small compared to regular season.)

• Answer:

  Don't worry about it, nobody laughs at each other in a mean way, only as a joke. I've been swimming on a team since i was 8 and we all develop our strokes in different ways. Your boss is right, swimming will give you confidence, lots of it. It is more of a individual sport but you train as a team and when your at swimming competitions you compete as yourself but for a team. If you have a good idea of the strokes and have a good potential and positive attitude there is absolutely no reason whatsoever that you could not join a team. If you swim 3 times a week be prepared to do more than that and at a harder intensity as well (i used to swim about 8 or 9 times a week which is roughly 16 hours), but it will be to the benefit of you. You might open up new opportunities for yourself, meet new friends and learn new life skills. Go for it!