Ownership

In one of my blogs earlier this week, entitled "Coaching Mentality", I discussed the impact that a coach’s level of optimism and outlook on a season can have on their athletes. However, in this blog I am going to take a different approach and make the argument that athletes should push and motivate themselves regardless of their coach’s attitude. I realize, and know from personal experience, that dealing with a coach who seems disappointed or disinterested altogether in their team can really put a damper on the attitude, and possibly the ultimate success, of an individual athlete. That being said, everyone has to work toward their own personal goals and expectations, and claiming that you are not motivated or don’t want to put in the work and try your hardest because your coach is making you angry is in not an excuses. Everyone has to own up to their own successes and failures. Though having a bad coach gives their athletes and unfair disadvantage in the grand scheme of their sport, successful athletes still have to persevere and work to the hardest of their ability under whatever direction they are getting. Nothing angers me more than when someone claims that they are giving up on their season because their coach isn't coaching well or being supportive. 

As a team, athletes should come together and work to motivate and lift up each other. Teams don’t need the approval or respect of their coaches in order to support one another and help each individual on their team succeed. If your coach is sub-par, it only gives team members a reason to take charge on the mental aspects on the sport and send out a vibe of positivity and hard work. When one person sends out a negative vibe, many others on the team are usually taken hostage by their negativity and poor work ethic and begin to give up as well. As soon as this happens, the outlook for the team quickly plummets, and you all begin to have less fun, more stress and, and less success. So make the decision to work with your team and be happy and determined this season!