Together Forever

1. Just do your best. Compete against your own time. Try your hardest. Doing your best can be any of the following: running faster, runnning farther, trying something new, better form, better breathing, or better attitude. 2. Sometimes offer to run with a slower runner and give encouragement. 3. Cheer for runners on the other team, too. All kids are our future. We need to make everyone feel loved. 4. Offer to bring a healthy snack to a practice. Make sure there is enough for everyone. 5. Educate your parents as to positive things to say to all runners, "Looking good, you've got it, keep at it, keep trying, we're behind you, you're awesome." And NO BOOING allowed. 6. Ask a teammate, teacher, or coach if there is anything you can do to help the team. 7. Let the coach know that you think all kids should earn ribbons or medals at least once during the year, and if you finish an event before your teammates, make sure to wait for them to cheer them on, even the slowest. They will notice and remember what you have done. 8. Suggest that your coach throws a party that isn't only an 'award ceremony'. Socializing with your teammates is a great way to bond. 9. Be on time. Respect the rules. Say, "Please," and "Thank you" to your teammates and coach. 10. If you disagree with something, ask the coach, teacher, or teammates to discuss it. Suggest having a team 'meeting' when everyone can voice opinions or issues. Kids should have a voice, too.

KidsRunning.Com and RUNNER'S WORLD magazine are both dedicated to making a better lifestyle for our kids. This page was written to help a visitor with a school project. Let us know if we can help you with your school/running projects or send us some of your own teamwork tips. We're always here for you.

Email rwedit@rodale.com. We would love to hear from you!