We've all met someone who talks a big game. Basketball training
They talk the talk, but when it comes time to walk the walk, they can't deliver. At some point, whether on the court, in the gym or just in life, you will find yourself in a situation where you truly want to succeed - where you're talking the talk - but when it comes to walking you feel like you're feet are stuck in the mud. Here are three ways to ensure that you're "all in" and your coaches don't just think you're talking a big game. l
1. Let your actions speak for themselves.
There is no shortage of notable figures throughout history who have chimed in on the importance of backing up what you say. I'm somewhat of a History nerd so one of my favorite quotes on this subject comes from Benjamin Franklin:
"Remember, 'Well Done' is much better than 'Well Said."
It might seem that you need to get someone to pay attention to you in order for them to see your progress, especially when you are younger. But your coaches, teachers, and parents notice the little things more than you think. If you are doing the workouts, or getting up extra shots, even if no one is there to see it, people will notice. They'll notice when everyone else has to come out and you're not tired. They'll notice when you hit the big shot in the critical moment. You have to put trust in them, just as they are putting trust in you to accomplish something even when they aren't there.
2. Treat the small things like your life depends upon it.
Look, no one LIKES wind sprints. No one ENJOYS not being able to walk straight after a hard leg day at the gym. But you know what they do enjoy? That moment when all that hard work pays off and they're able to hit that shot, dunk for the first time, or hang a banner from the rafters.
One of the best motivational speakers today, Eric Thomas, said it best:
“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you'll be successful!”
If you have the talent, you might be able to make the team by going through the motions and showing up to most of the workouts. But if you're doing that, you're not all in. You need to have the mindset that you HAVE to go workout today; that you CANNOT skip this last set or you will not be as good as you could have been. When you view the small things as crucial to your development as a player and a person, then you're all in.
3. Mandatory = Minimum
You've already adopted the mindset that everything your coaches asks you to do. Every rep, every wind sprint, and every workout is now viewed as crucial to your survival.
Great...now you're ready to begin the real work.
If you want to great - if you want to be all in, you can't just do the minimum. You have to be willing to go above and beyond what is expected of you. That is when you separate yourself from your peers who weren't willing to put in the extra time.
There is an old saying that I think fits this perfectly:
There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.
When was the last time you heard of a successful professional athlete that made it to the highest level of their sport by dogging it in practice? Some worked harder than others, that much is true, but no one becomes great at their craft by only doing what is required of them.
As I said earlier, just because you're not walking the walk yet doesn't mean that you're a pretender. The first step is recognizing that you really want this. Now you can take these principles, incorporate them into your sports life, and your day to day life. If you do, it wont be hard for people to notice that you're ALL IN.
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