3 THINGS ALL ATHLETES NEED TO DO TO ENSURE SUCCESS
The athletes’ role in training is often one that is overlooked. If we are to prepare them physically for competitions, we also need to arm them with mental strategies to get the most from their performance training and sports practice. After all the training has been delivered, sweat has been spent yet some athletes succeed while others don’t. At Mission Barbell we want to point out exactly what our athletes can do daily to ensure long term success. It’s all about mindset and an underappreciated value known as “coachabiltiy”. “Coachability” has tangible and trainable aspects and often these aspects are as great an indicator of success as improvements in shuttle times, weightlifting numbers or vertical jump.
As a Strength and conditioning coach, I am tirelessly working to improve upon our programs. Whether it be implementing the latest research in performance training or refining current training methods. Studying the Art of Coaching Athletes, we know not all athletes are not alike, so we apply the appropriate strategy to best reach, relate and motivate our athletes. We have very high expectations of our training programs which are focused on performance improvement and how to best manage athlete’s expectations and abilities.
Learning how to be coached is simple, but not easy, but it is the surest way to get your hard work noticed.
"Be quick, but don't hurry" - John Wooden
Listen: Coaching cues are often subtle, tacit and can be confusing: strive to perform drills correctly every time. Quality repetitions are the key to improvement not sloppy fast efforts. Coaches love energy in there players but use most of their own time and resources trying to get this point across. Speed, Strength, Agility and listening are all skills that come with quality of practice.
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Use your training sessions to practice how you are going to practice. How you practice will be how you perform.
Listen with your eyes. Eye contact is our most powerful nonverbal method of communication.
Communication is reflexive so good eye contact will tell coaches you are engaged and will draw you in to a more positive learning experience.
“There are two types of athletes; Get to and Got To”
“Get to” athletes love to compete and take all opportunities to get better. "Got to" players see practice or training as a chore with little to no value.”
Gratitude: Be thankful for the coaching you receive. Be thankful for your parents for providing you with the opportunity for growth. Athletes that see training as an opportunity for improvement will find success. Coaches of all sports love “get to “players because they are always grateful for opportunities to improve.
Be a “Get to Athlete”
·Shake your coaches’ hand after a training session. Both player and coach deserve to acknowledge that their time and effort has been appreciated.
Be specific when thanking coaches
“Thanks Coach, I feel I understand_____ better” “I think I got better at___.”
Thank your parents. They deserve to know that their time and efforts are appreciated.
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts” H. S. Truman
Empty Your Cup: In "Zen Golf" by Dr. Joseph Parent; he shares the story of a student coming to a teacher and telling him all about the teacher’s subject. As the student continues to speak the teacher begins poring him a drink. First filling the cup, then overflowing it on to the table and then the floor. The student finally can’t contain himself and says “stop, stop the cup is full and no more can get in”. The teacher then remarks that “just like the cup, your mind is full of your own opinions and preconceptions. How can you learn anything unless you first empty your cup?”
Training shouldn’t be mindless obedience, but you should reserve opinion until the training has had a chance to take hold. We are in an internet age and need to be mindful of partial information and ridiculous improvement claims. Emulating what others do without knowing why they are doing it is counterproductive to your improvement.
Ask specific “why” questions. An informed athlete is a better, more confident athlete. Knowing why you are improving is incredibly empowering and motivating
Knowing that it’s is your hard work and your cumulative effort over time that are the keys to your improvement
Use your coaches as a resource: There is a lot of information on the internet and not all of it is good.
Do specific video or web searches. See how your form compares with others. Getting geeky for your training is a sure way to maintain a high level of effort.
The mental training is the area where most athletes fall short. The X’s and O’s of performance training and the science that is behind it is clear. How much you get out of your training will be the difference in your hard work being recognized and goals realized.
1. Listen be present. Your body language is the key and is trainable
2. Appreciation/ gratitude You have an opportunity, you get to play.
3. Have an open mind: you need to allow new ideas in. empty your cup.
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