ARE YOU CHOOSING SUCCESS?

Over the years I have only had a handful of players complain about their lack of playing time, or that they deserved to be a starter, or they should be a team Captain, etc. However, the one thing those players (and parents) often failed to realize is that success on the court or even on the team, is totally determined by the player... not by the coach.

Each of us have a choice in the way we shape our future, and those choices determine the level of success we will likely experience as a result.

Here are a few of the most common stumbling blocks for players that can be avoided by just making the right choice.

 Those who won't compete – usually complain the most.

 Your coach can't spend 90% of his time on 10% of the team. It’s YOUR responsibility to know the plays, to be on time, be mentally prepared, to keep your grades up and stay to out of trouble. Don’t be the one player on the team that is a constant distraction to the team either on or off the court.

 Don’t just go through the motions in practice and then complain about it. Use that time to improve your skills and to work on your cleverness in the way you use your moves.

 Lack of intelligence isn’t what stops most players, it’s learning to get past failure. You’re the only one that can prevent YOU from succeeding. Ever notice the words… Dedication, Perseverance, Tenacity, Resolve or Persistence are usually used to describe the road to success? Those words exist for a reason.

 If you play long enough, you will eventually encounter failure (a bad game), and you can overcome it with mental toughness. Failure isn't permanent unless you allow it to be.

Respect for coaches & teammates:

 Eye Contact vs. Eye Roll – eye contact sends the message that you’re listening intently and seeking to learn how to improve. Eye roll sends the message that you could care less.

 Energy Provider (encourager) vs. Energy Sucker (negative attitude) – encouragement provides positive energy to a team even during the most difficult times. A negative attitude drains positive energy from a team and a negative attitude is a cancer that can very quickly turn a good team into a mediocre team.

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