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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (2-22-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

While advancing to the semi-finals of the Women’s Australian Open, Jessica Pegula beat a top-10 ranked player for the first time in her ten year professional career. Pegula’s father owns the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and she credited a shift in her mentality and her inspiration from watching Bill’s quarterback Josh Allen among the driving forces that have allowed her to reach new heights in her career.

Pegula stated that watching Allen grow through tough times opened her eyes. She was quoted saying “I like this kid (Allen). I love his competitive spirit. He is a gamer. He just wanted to win and that is something you love to see. It is cool watching them (Buffalo) and channeling that energy back into what I am doing. “

Who/what drives and inspires you?  Find something or someone that fuels your desire.  Maybe it is a player, maybe it is a coach, maybe it is someone outside your sport. Whatever it is—use that inspiration when you are uncertain or doubting yourself and put it to use!

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (2-15-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

Do you have trouble putting a bad game or sub par performance behind you?  It’s easy to move on after good games because you are usually in a better frame of mind.

So how can you bury the negative thoughts when you know you could have played better?  How can you move on to the next game?

You cannot dwell on mistakes you have made and expect to improve.

Remember-games are just an extension of your practices and preparation. You will find that over time the carry over from practice to games will improve and start to show as the season goes on.

While you may have played a game you were not pleased with, you can always find something that you did well. Each game is a building block.

Athletes who focus on the rear view mirror instead of looking ahead to their next game may never reach their potential!

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (2-8-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

Winston Churchill once said “The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.”

Most students like being in a classroom with a teacher who is positive and most athletes enjoy being around coaches who are positive.  Are you lucky enough to have that in your school?  Have you realized a positive outcome from a teacher or coach who shows that attitude?

How do you react when you find yourself in the opposite situation?  Do you succumb to being negative or do you continue to try and lift up your classmates and teammates by looking at the bright side of things?

Your attitude and positive thinking will take you a long way in life. In tough times it can be a difference maker when you might want to quit or give up.   While most of us may never achieve the impossible, we can all achieve success and significant victories along the way by being a positive person!

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week  (2-1-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

A goal without a plan is just a wish.  Have you heard that saying?

You have been setting goals and achieving them throughout  your life.  Did you learn to swim, ride a bike, and throw a ball overnight? You had the desire to conquer these and took the steps to get there.

Your goals and dreams become bigger as you age.  What doesn’t change is the importance of your plan to achieve them. 

You have the opportunity to reach the goals you set in athletics as well.  Wonder how some of the greatest athletes got to where they are today? Some have amazing talent, but without goals and a plan to improve and become more consistent, they wouldn’t be at the top of their sport.

Set short-term and long-term goals for yourself that you can work toward accomplishing and execute on your plan.  Success does not happen over night, but it can happen over time!

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (1-25-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

In a recent article in the winter issue of Golf Journal, there was a quote from an amateur golfer that applies to anyone who has ever played a sport.

“We were all beginners at one time.  No one was born a great player.  And the intimidation of that as a beginner, well, people have to understand that we all started by trying to just get the ball off the ground.”

This golfer went on to win many amateur titles. She spent hours and hours practicing and working with instructors to get where she is. 

Regardless of your sport, it is not unusual to be challenged by someone better, bigger, stronger or faster. Sometimes it just takes time to grow into your body and your sport.  In high school, underclassmen may be competing against upperclassmen. 

The daily, weekly, and monthly practice you put in will pay off over time.  No one is an overnight success.  Don’t give up when you may be overmatched and/or intimidated. 

Hopefully your day will come!

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