If I could give youth coaches one reminder heading into the season:
Don't sacrifice development trying to win a game nobody will remember in 5 years.
COMPETE to win today.
DEVELOP for tomorrow.
Mental toughness, once developed, doesn’t just stay with you. You have to continue to work hard to maintain it. If you get lazy, you can become mentally weak again.
Never forget that one of the main purposes of playing sports is to have fun. If you’re not having fun anymore, take a step back and think about how you can change your attitude, behavior, and environment to regain your love for sports.
Mental toughness isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It can be learned and developed. Anyone is capable of training their mental toughness if they’re willing to do so.
The two main reasons why athletes underperform under pressure:
1. Lack of preparation
2. Poor mental game
With smart training and mental skills, athletes can overcome nervousness and perform better under pressure.
As an athlete, it’s great to have individual goals, but make sure they are compatible with your team’s goals. If your individual goals are in conflict with your team’s goals, you need to get over yourself and put the team first!
To succeed as an athlete, you need to take ownership of your thoughts and emotions. Don’t just rely on others to give you motivation and confidence. Learn how to create your own positive mindset!
If you only work hard when you feel motivated, you’ll never be consistent enough to reach your biggest goals. To succeed in life, you need to have the discipline to work hard even when you don’t feel like it.
Talent is what you're born with. Skill is what you acquire through practice. Even if you lack natural talent, you can still succeed as an athlete by mastering your skills!
Three reasons why you should put the team first and be a good teammate:
1. You’ll experience deeper happiness through team success.
2. Your coaches will speak highly of you, which helps advance your career.
3. It’ll improve your character and help you in areas outside of sports.
Every time you step onto the field, you represent your team, your school, your city, and your family. Play hard to honor the people and places you care about most!