Want to be great? Practice these 10 things

Practice. We are talking about practice!

When you think of practice, you’re probably thinking about the workout. How hard will it be? How long? How tough will Coach be? Etc. Practice, in our minds is basically a synonym for physical activity, for sweat, for an organized time of exercising with teammates.

But practice should not stop at practice.

Being a great athlete means you practice more than just your body for 3 hours a day 6 days a week. There is a mindset to greatness and it transcends beyond the field of play. If you want to reach your full potential, you need to practice these disciplines as well;

10 disciplines all great athletes practice;

1. Gratitude: You cannot be grateful and grouchy at the same time. Having an attitude of gratitude will combat jealous and insecure feelings because you will be focusing on what you have rather than on what you don’t.
2. Confidence: When the game is on the line, the coach is going to give the responsibility to the player who knows she can do what it takes to win. The more you intentionally practice saying I AM (strong, capable, worthy… ) the more confidence will grow. (Download the List of Affirmations all athletes should say).
3. Will: Give another push. Switch gears. Practice willing yourself to do more than you want to, more than you feel you need to at that moment. Because a race will come down to the final inches, a game to the final seconds. If you haven’t practiced using your will, you won’t be able to find it when the game is on the line.
4. Routines: Create routines for going to bed, before school, and for game day. Practice these enough they become habit. Having a routine keeps you organized, emotionally stable, and saves your energy for where it should be used… your sport.
5. Little Things: Running all the way to the line, putting the equipment away exactly as it should be, showing up early, going to the training room after practice. You either have of a habit of shortcuts, or a habit of diligence. Your habits show your character. Practice the little things. 
6. Health: This does NOT mean diet! It means be in charge of how you treat your body. Learn what foods fuel you, and limit those that don’t. And water. Don’t forget water. Practicing a healthy balance in your nutrition will help you to learn your body better and can carry over positively into your performance.
7. Saying No: Drama can so easily sneak in and distract you. Once you open the door to gossip, negativity, others’ problems, it’s hard to shut it out. Practice saying no to all the extras that suck your time and your emotions.
8. Studying: Yes, more studying! Study your game. Study your craft. Kobe Bryant watched the entire reel of game film after every game. He was great because he was disciplined in studying his game. Want to get better? Study your game and discover for yourself.
9. Listening: Be coachable. Make continuous conscious effort to understand your coach. Give her eye contact. Be attentive. Respond respectfully when you understand critique and when you don’t. When your coach sees how well you listen to her and others, the more you will be heard and validated.
10. Forgiveness: We can be so hard on ourselves. We can stay stuck in a slump. We can hold grudges for something someone said in the heat of the battle. We need to practice forgiveness so we can learn and move forward. Holding onto grudges, onto failed expectations only holds us down. Practice forgiveness and move forward.

Being great doesn’t take talent, it takes practice. So practice what matters.

And never forget that at some point, your athletic career will be over. You want more left than just worn out sneakers. All these practices will not only make you a better athlete, they will help you carry over greatness into all areas of your life.

Get to practice!

Play Now! Play YOU!

XO, Coach D