Train like you play

Do you train like you play?  For many youth athletes the point of playing is just to have fun and be around friends.  This is all fine, but if you want to be your best you have to train like you play.  There needs to be purposeful training which means you are doing it to improve.  Yes, have fun is high on the list, but you should want to improve even more. 

The mindset of an athlete should be to train like you play

On game day most people work harder than they practice.  To train like you play means that you need to practice just as hard as you play in the game.  Those who have the sports maturity understand that you have to put it 100%.  Some do it naturally and others because they listened and believed their mentors. 

The best athletes in the world are the ones who want to be the best.  There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be #1.  With this it is important to know it’s okay if you don’t become “the best”. 

Age breakdown for youth athletes 

• Ages 6-8  are still trying to figure out what they like and are good at.  This is not the age where parents should decide what sport their kid is going to play.  Let them try different things and see what they are drawn to.  Let them have fun and learn to be good listeners and teammates. 
• Ages 9-10 is an important time to get kids a little extra training.  Not everyone has the money to do private lessons year round, but try to invest a few months of small group or 1:1 skills development.  Ages 9 and 10 can do just about anything you teach them, so let’s at least introduce it.  Then in middle school they are confident in themselves to compete against some very good talent. 
• Ages 11-13 middle school is where lot of transformation happens.  Many kids have not yet filled their athletic potential.  Those who work hard will either catch up to others or separate further from the competition.  
• Ages 14-17 high school kids who have a mix of mindset, though most of these are pretty talented.  Some gained the talent by training hard over the years, others have the natural giftings. 
• Ages 18+ is college and pro level, which means it’s a business.  At this level every single person should be going 100% in every practice.  High school has talented players who are not necessarily “all business and that’s okay, but college and pro should have a different team atmosphere. 
• Ages 21+ are pro players who at this point know that you must train like you play.  There are days you don’t want to practice, but we don’t do everything want.  We do what we are supposed to do.  Work hard, never give up and continue to have the desire to learn and improve. 

The discipline it takes to be your best

No matter what your job title or passion is, there are days you don’t want to put in the work.   

Discipline is when you go out and work hard on the days you don’t feel like it.   Mature people get the job done and see results, while immature folks come up with excuses. 

To reach the top you have to train like you play

Sometimes in life you’ll want to give up.  You can turn around and go back to where you came from or you can keep climbing that mountain.  

There are thousands of talented people who almost made it, but gave up.  Imagine getting 90% of the way and then choosing to stop.  Sports teaches us how life is going to be.  There are ups and downs.  Be humble when you’re up and keep working and being patient when you’re down. 

Running lines [sprints] on your own

One of the best feelings in the world is to defeat the lazy thoughts in your mind.  That voice that tells you to keep chilling or to start tomorrow.  Don’t listen to that voice.  Let’s start working today!  When you finish it gives you both physical and mental strength for tomorrow.   One day at a time, choose to defeat that voice telling you the opposite of what the truth is. 

So during your off-season get out on your own and run sprints.  Watch how much you will grow in so many ways.   

Why coaches have a great responsibility 

Whether a kid grows up in a functional or broken home, kids look up to their coaches.  

Whether it’s football, tennis, basketball, track and field kids want and need leadership.  It doesn’t matter the sport, kids need you.  Even to this day I think of my youth, college and pro coaches.  I learned from all of them in different ways. The ones who impacted me in a positive way helped me to pass it down to the next generation. 

If you’re a coach wanting to start or grow your own business take a look at Elite Sports Business Academy