default
Member
From Coach Traub:
Today?s Mental Skills Tip ? In my coaching clinics, I promote three priorities for the ideal team culture. Excellence, enthusiasm, and forgiveness. The first two are logical, the third is perhaps surprising, but excellence and enthusiasm cannot be maintained without forgiveness. In this article, I elaborate on why excellence is critical, and what it requires...
Great athletes make excellent performances appear easy, but they obviously are not. How can we prepare for excellence in performance? For me, thinking about this question starts with three quotes:
2) Know what to do.
3) Do what you know.
First I must find a worthy goal to work towards, and there is no better way to find it than to do whatever I'm doing now to the best of my ability and see if this sparks a passion. If so: fantastic. It's now time to think about both long and short-term goals. If it doesn?t, I have still trained myself in mental discipline and received the most benefits possible from that activity, both for myself and those around me.
If excellence is to be achieved, massive action is required. This action must not only include hard work, but smart work, too. Leaders know how to work smart because they constantly ask questions and pay special attention to the second level in Coach Wooden?s Pyramid of Success: self-control, intentness, initiative, and alertness. Finally, champions display mental toughness by
Today?s Mental Skills Tip ? In my coaching clinics, I promote three priorities for the ideal team culture. Excellence, enthusiasm, and forgiveness. The first two are logical, the third is perhaps surprising, but excellence and enthusiasm cannot be maintained without forgiveness. In this article, I elaborate on why excellence is critical, and what it requires...
Great athletes make excellent performances appear easy, but they obviously are not. How can we prepare for excellence in performance? For me, thinking about this question starts with three quotes:
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
The past is history, the future is a mystery, but the present is a gift.
Strive for perfection, but never expect it.
The first reminds me that action is required and great gains occur as a result of consistent small improvements. The second reminds me to check my regrets about the past and my worries about the future at the door so that I can give my best effort right now to the task-at-hand. The third clarifies that I have high expectations and I set no limits on my capabilities, but I will not beat myself up for my shortcomings, either. The past is history, the future is a mystery, but the present is a gift.
Strive for perfection, but never expect it.
There are three levels of mental toughness according to Harvey Dorfman:
1) Want it.
2) Know what to do.
3) Do what you know.
First I must find a worthy goal to work towards, and there is no better way to find it than to do whatever I'm doing now to the best of my ability and see if this sparks a passion. If so: fantastic. It's now time to think about both long and short-term goals. If it doesn?t, I have still trained myself in mental discipline and received the most benefits possible from that activity, both for myself and those around me.
If excellence is to be achieved, massive action is required. This action must not only include hard work, but smart work, too. Leaders know how to work smart because they constantly ask questions and pay special attention to the second level in Coach Wooden?s Pyramid of Success: self-control, intentness, initiative, and alertness. Finally, champions display mental toughness by
a) controlling their emotions;
b) maintaining an "I will not be denied" attitude;
c) seeking out new ways to know (figure out) what to do;
d) giving their best effort, relentlessly;
e) paying attention to all the details along the journey; and
f) by enjoying the ride, even through the obstacles along the way.
COACHING POINT - Many youngsters still trying to find themselves will certainly claim to want excellence, but will have other desires guiding their actions. These other desires include the need to fit in, to look good, to get attention, and to please others. Don't assume that your level of maturity and motivation already exists in your athletes, even the leaders. In your own way, find a way to communicate to them your confidence in their potential, your belief in right behavior, and your passion for competing with others and, above that, with yourself. Their choices do not mean that they do not want excellence. Poor choices reflect an incomplete view of reality and their own priorities, and perhaps the development of some unfortunate habits. Lead them; most of them not only truly want to be great, but they are willing to be inspired and become exceptional in their approach! They just need a spark. When you get them to compete with themselves and embrace the challenges, they will, "find something infinitely mysterious and wholly valuable: the ability to surprise [themselves]" (from Slaying the Dragon by Michael Johnson).
Coach Wooden Quote: "Success is the peace of mind that comes from knowing you did your best."
b) maintaining an "I will not be denied" attitude;
c) seeking out new ways to know (figure out) what to do;
d) giving their best effort, relentlessly;
e) paying attention to all the details along the journey; and
f) by enjoying the ride, even through the obstacles along the way.
COACHING POINT - Many youngsters still trying to find themselves will certainly claim to want excellence, but will have other desires guiding their actions. These other desires include the need to fit in, to look good, to get attention, and to please others. Don't assume that your level of maturity and motivation already exists in your athletes, even the leaders. In your own way, find a way to communicate to them your confidence in their potential, your belief in right behavior, and your passion for competing with others and, above that, with yourself. Their choices do not mean that they do not want excellence. Poor choices reflect an incomplete view of reality and their own priorities, and perhaps the development of some unfortunate habits. Lead them; most of them not only truly want to be great, but they are willing to be inspired and become exceptional in their approach! They just need a spark. When you get them to compete with themselves and embrace the challenges, they will, "find something infinitely mysterious and wholly valuable: the ability to surprise [themselves]" (from Slaying the Dragon by Michael Johnson).
Coach Wooden Quote: "Success is the peace of mind that comes from knowing you did your best."