The 3 Things All Athletes Need to Learn

Grit

Growth Mindset

You Get What You Earn

These are the 3 of most important things that you can teach your athlete.  Outside of size, athleticism, and natural talents and tendencies, character is arguably the most important factor in how good somebody will become in sports.  

If they have grit, they will persevere through the good and bad.  If they have a growth mindset, they will understand that there are things that they are good and bad at, and the process is all about getting better, every day.  If they understand that you get what you earn, they will learn that making excuses - about coaches, referees, and their teammates, etc - will do them know good in the long run and that they have to figure out a way over, through and around all of the challenges in their way.

But it's our job to TEACH them these things, and to do so continuously, constantly, and consistently so that the it stays with them and becomes a part of who they are now and forever.  They have to get these lessons from somewhere, so make sure that it is coming from YOU starting TODAY.

And it is as simple as 3 questions and 3 follow up answers:

1 - Do you know what grit means?

2 - Do you know what growth mindset is?

3 - Do you know what it means to make no excuses (or to have accountability)

1 - Grit means having the strength (mental and physical) to keep going through the good and bad (and there will be good and bad).

2 - Growth Mindset is knowing that we all have strengths and weaknesses but we can get better (grow) at anything if we have the right mindset and practice and work on it.

3 - Don't make excuses.  Work hard and earn everything that comes your way.  If you arent starting, work harder.  If you get beat, work harder.  You can have all the fun you want, but understand that there are people out there that are working everyday, and when you play them, they will win.  But you can always be that person through your hard work.

We teach these lessons to our own kids and to the kids that we teach and coach.  It's our job to teach them these things, and it's our job to watch and make sure that they are in an environment in which they can have fun, they are safe and that they can grow in.