Intensity and Consistency

UNC's legendary men's' basketball coach, Roy Williams, says that the toughest part of the transition from high school to college, and the toughest part of transitioning to the highest level in college is the level and consistency of your intensity and your ability to compete.

I see this at all levels of athletics. Talent is the great separator, but we all know the quote, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

Even with elite youth athletes, what separates the elite from the really good is the consistency of intensity and competitive levels. The elite are big, strong, and fast, and they keep going. The elite makes second effort plays, and third effort and fourth effort. The elite outlast their opponents. 

If you want to take your game to the next level tomorrow, compete longer and harder. Don't give up on the play after you get beat; get it back. And keep doing it over and over again. This will build your stamina, and it will increase your skill level. This will also help you close the gap between you and someone better than you until there is no more gap.

Your level of intensity has to be really, really high, and it has to stay up there. You have to take pride in competing. Take pride every day in being able to play your best - no matter who you are playing.