Be the best YOU!

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about living in the moment.  I admitted that it was something that I struggled with--my way is more to tackle a task and not be satisfied until I am finished.

I related the story of working in my yard and finding joy in the task and the weather and being able to be outside.  Simply finishing became less important.

But that's not the whole story.  I also know that if you are to accomplish a lot, you've got to have a plan.  Having a goal and no plan is like leaving on a trip without a road map.  You've got to know where you want to end up.

It might be individual goals.  Never forget that the first thing you've got to be is the best you that you can be.  Competition comes later.  Much later. 

Maybe you want to be as strong as you can be.  Or as flexible as you can be.  Or as fast.  That's totally acceptable.  That gives you the foundation on which other things can be built.

I would tell you at this point that core strength is one of the most important components to any training program, regardless of your sport.  And if you want to prevent injuries, nothing is more important than flexibility.

The next step along your path is skills acquisition.  Maybe it is shooting free throws.  Or performance in agility drills.  Break skills down into their basic elements and work on that. 

For free throws, good coaches tell me that consistency in your form is essential.  That goal isn't going to move.  It's going to stay 10 feet off the floor and 15 feet away.

For agility drills, maybe it is the simple change of directions.  Work on that.  Foot speed is  best defined as how quickly you move your feet-a skill that essential to most sports.

If you're working on speed, breaking it down into components is essential.  It all starts with...well...the start.  Do you explode out?  Getting up to full speed quickly is important.  I remember an offensive lineman from around here who had the quickest first 2-3 steps that I had ever seen.  He used that to a good college career.

Stride length is important.  Flexibility is important.  Running form is important--you want everything focused on propelling you forward as fast as possible.

Personal goals should be just what the term implies.  But set yourself on the path to achieve your dreams by having a plan, seeking advice, and relentlessly pursuing success.

Maybe then it's time to expand to team goals.  Unless you're in an individual sport, in which case it's OK at this point to aspire to a state championship or whatever might be out there in front of you.

It's completely OK to set the bar high for team goals.  Go undefeated.  Win the District.  Win the league.  Win the state championship.  But never forget that if you're part of a team, that team goals must always (always) take precedence over individual goals. 

If you forget that, you will not give your sport what it deserves and you will certainly not take from sports what they have to offer you.