2023 Team Standards

We will not waiver from these expectations so it is important to understand our program's pursuit of excellence.  We are here to win, and these are the standards that will allow us to do that.   

1. We are for the team.

How we do anything is how we do everything.

When I’m putting pressure on myself, I remember I have a team behind me.

When I’m thinking too low or too high of myself, I put my thoughts on doing my best with the situation and remembering my actions affect the entire team.

For new athletes – Use the first season to teach your mind to think of the team when things are hard and when things are great.  You have support, you are support.

2.  We love hard work.

We seek positive stress and love working hard toward our goals.

Team goals from camp are written down, will remind guys at first practice.

They are very attainable goals, but other teams have similar goals.  Our embracing of hard work and seeking to do everything at our best will give us the edge over them.

Think of those goals in difficult times, good to have those goals for many things in your life to help you stay grounded and know that things definitely won't be perfect! 

A hard day today is better than a hard day on race day.

Translates to school/any endeavor – am I willing to study for a big AP exam instead of going to a movie with friends?  One is definitely harder, but it just depends on if it is important to you or not…

3.  This is important to us. 

We choose to be on the Hale XC team which has a proud tradition. 
 
In order to build on that tradition, the men that choose to be here also choose to make this sport important.
 
We are here to win.  Winning can happen in many ways, we are going to celebrate all of our successes and each person's improvement!  This is a supportive and loving group.
 
Winning is FUN.

4.  We leave the program in a better place.

To carry on the tradition means to take the program as you enter it and make it better through your four years of competing.
 
Returning athletes – create the culture you want the first-year athletes to have during their tenure.  They will be the ones to take the program when you leave.
 
New Athletes – Be inspired by the team leaders, take initiative to lead others and steer them to saying and doing the right things.  You can do this from day 1!