Letting Go of Superstar Expectations
In the world of sports, the phrase “The NEXT Big Thing” is frequently thrown around with up and coming athletes that show promise, creating high expectations for these athletes.
Without a doubt, it’s great to be recognized for your ability and talent within your sport.
“The next big thing” tag can be validation for all your hard work and efforts.
The following are examples of athletes who have drawn such high praise for their abilities and accomplishments within their sport…
Eighth grade basketball player Elijah Fisher has been described by his coach at Grassroots Elite (Canada) Ro Russell as “Elijah could be the best player to ever come out of Canada.”
High school junior quarterback Eli Brickhandler has been referred to as “He’s the next big thing for quarterbacks in the state of California.”
After a strong showing at Wimbledon and the US Open, 15-year-old Coco Gauff has been touted as “the next big thing” in tennis, even drawing some comparison to Venus and Serena Williams.
These elite labels are such a high honor but also carry with them excessively high expectations. Living up to the “NEXT Big Thing” tag can be overwhelming.
These athletes feel tremendous pressure to prove coaches and the media right. Not only do you need to be the best you can be, you have to be better than someone who has already achieved top status in their sport.
The pressure of such high expectations causes many young athletes to fall short of their potential and even drop out of their sport at an early age.
In US soccer, there have been countless players labeled as the “NEXT Big Thing.” This label has been thrust upon US Soccer 18-year-old fullback Sergino Dest…
Dest, who recently started his first game for the US Men’s National Team, also started matches internationally for AJAX, the most successful club in the Netherlands.
Instead of succumbing to the high expectations and pressure of being labeled the “NEXT Big Thing,” Dest was singularly focused on playing his game, improving, and taking advantage of the opportunities afforded to him.
DEST: “[The US Men’s National Team gave] me a chance in preseason to play with the first team and it went very well. My focus was like, I want to stay there and I don’t want to go back to the second team. So I played really well, and they gave me more chances and I succeeded with those chances.”
It’s great for other to believe in your abilities. It is amazing to hear that other see tremendous potential within you.
However, you don’t have to be the “NEXT Star.” Just focus on being the best version of you each week.
You want to let go of the high expectations so you can compete without the undue pressure thrust upon you by other people.
Overcoming Labels: the Next Big Thing
Instead of focusing on being the “Next Big Thing,” focus on the “Next Thing,” or what’s right in front of you.
What do you need to do NOW to be at your best? How will you improve today or this week?
Focus on being the best version of you rather trying to live up to the expectations of being some other accomplished athlete.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- Be Prepared When You Go in For a Starter
- Tom Brady and Mental Toughness
- Be Mentally Prepared When Coach Calls You To Play
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The Focused Athlete
It’s probably no secret that you have many opportunities to become distracted in sports. Athletes are bombarded with both internal and external distractions everyday in practice and competition. Focused athletes are able to get the most from their skills because they are more efficient with practice and more concentrated in competition. Athletes who lack focus let distractions run wild through their mind and don’t know how to adjust or refocus.
The Focused Athlete was developed for any level coach, parent, or junior to professional athlete who wants to improve performance and gain a competitive edge. It does not matter if you are a fledgling junior athlete; or a seasoned professional, plagued with distractions; or you just wanting to learn how to improve concentration…
“The Focused Athlete” is a complete system to teach you how to focus like a champion and harness the power of a zone focus every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course in practice and games!