THE KEYS FOR YOU TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE SEASON

In order for you to have a productive season this year it is very important that you only focus on what you can control.  This is a lesson for you that will apply the rest of your life in everything that you choose to do.  Here are some things you cannot control: a referee’s call, a coach unfairly disciplining you, an opponent being a better athlete than you, the game plan, what position you are assigned and many other things.

Not every person was created by God with the same physical abilities. Some people run faster, jump higher, and learn quicker than others.  We will have some players on our team and opponents that are more athletically gifted and some who are not.

However, there are two areas that everyone can control and be on the same level.  Your ATTITUDE and your EFFORT.  It takes zero athletic ability to have a CAN DO ATTITUDE and to give MAX EFFORT.

This year you will hear coaches say, “Can’t never could and never will!”  Your ability to accomplish something is all about your ATTITUDE.  When you say, “CAN’T” what you are really saying is that you, “Will not and never will.”  You are making the choice not to work and figure out how to accomplish the task because it is too hard.  We want you to learn to, “Figure it out!”  That is another phrase that you will hear coaches say over and over.  We are going to teach you that you CAN and push you to think critically and figure out how.

It is OK to make to mistakes as long as those mistakes are made with max EFFORT.  Giving everything you have is an ATTITUDE and a choice.  Whining, complaining and excuses are not tolerated!  A positive ATTITUDE and max EFFORT are rewarded.  We do not expect you to be excited for every single practice.  Sometimes you are tired and do not have a 100% that day.  This will happen throughout the rest of your life.  It even happens to your parents. However, we expect you to give us 100% of whatever you have in you for that day.  If your energy level is at 80%, we want every last bit of that 80%.  We will not settle for you giving us anything less than 100% of that 80%.  Whatever you have that day we need all of it. Anything less will be unproductive and unacceptable.

In learning how to maximize your ATTITUDE and EFFORT you will start to see yourself accomplish things you did not think you were capable of accomplishing.  As a result, your confidence and self-esteem will grow.  As those traits grow now when you only have 80% you will see yourself dig deeper inside of you and come up with 90% or more.  This will push you to accomplish more and be more productive.  These are things you can control.

Remember the more time you spend complaining and making excuses, the less time you are spending on figuring it out and getting better.  Focus on what you can control!