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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (3-21-22)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

Today's student-athlete is faced is with a lot of "outside noise."  In other words, everyone is offering advice on what the athlete is doing right/wrong and what the athlete needs to work on.

Whether it is a parent, personal coach, or personal trainer, everyone has an opinion.  How do you drown out the distractions and focus on what is important?

My suggestion is to always look to your team coach first and foremost.  Parents mean well when they offer suggestions as do personal coaches.  Take their guidance and advice when needed but remember that your high school coach determines your playing time and participation-so keep their direction at the forefront of what you do.  

Outside noise has been and always will be a factor that athletes must deal with.  However, the one person you should try to please and answer to is your coach, who makes the final determination on your value to the team.

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (3-14-22)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

Do you get discouraged easily?  When things are not going your way, how do you react?  Do you want to give up and quit or do you try harder?

One of my favorite coaches always encouraged our team to never quit.  His favorite saying to us was "If you are thinking about quitting, you have already quit!"

Quitting can mean a variety of things.  It may mean you are not giving your all.  It may mean you have given up.  It may mean you think you are already beat.  Regardless, there is a negative tone when the word quitting enters your mind.

The next time your workout or practice is not going the way you want, or your team is behind, and the outcome looks bleak, don't let any negative thoughts enter your mind.  Your mental strength may be tested in these situations--to fight until the very end, giving your best effort until the final horn sounds.

After a loss, you may be disappointed in the final outcome, but others won't be disappointed in your performance when you never quit!

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (3-7-22)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

His name doesn’t matter, but his story does. A young man I coached a few years back in AAU basketball has not been getting many opportunities to play at a major university. In fact, he played very few minutes and had zero points in his last five games.

However, he got the starting assignment on senior night after an injury to one teammate and a sickness to another and the result was an 18-point, 7 rebound performance that helped propel his team to a big win.

You never know when you might get your chance. In talking with this player, he felt like the coaches had given up on him and were no longer counting on him. He kept plugging away and never gave up.

I can’t imagine the emotions running through his mind as the crowd chanted his name in the closing minutes of the game. While others, including the coaches may not have envisioned this outcome, Joey Brunk took advantage of his opportunity and was ready when he got his chance!

Will you be ready when you get your chance?

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (2-28-22)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

Coming up short is never a fun experience in sports. However, we all know that failure is inevitable because no one wins every game or event.

The Winter Olympics concluded last week and in each event there were only three medals awarded. One of our top skiers, Mikaela Shiffin, was in five events and failed to medal even though she was a 3 time Olympian medalist in the past. Her comment was “Get up because you can, because you like what you do…. Just get up. It’s not always easy, but it’s also not the end of the world to fail.”  

We all will fail from time to time, much more than we want or expect. It’s how you respond to failing that really counts. Don’t make excuses. Don’t blame others. Look yourself in the mirror and vow to do better at your next opportunity.  

Failure is not a sign of weakness. Failure gives you the opportunity to bounce back and be better the next time out!

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

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

Have you ever wondered if athletes today complicate their training by trying to do too much, overthinking, and listening to too many people?

Think back when you were in elementary school.  When you were learning math skills, you did not start with multiplication and division.  It was addition first, then subtraction.  You conquered the basics and then moved on. 

As you analyze where you are and where you want to be in your skill development for your sport, take a simple approach and stick with it.  Drown out all the outside noise.

Next time you are working out, think about what you need to add to your skill set to put you in position to make your team or to make it as starter and subtract the things that are doing you no good!  

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