How to Keep Improving as an Athlete
Have you heard the saying, “If you keep doing the same thing over and over, you will keep getting the same results”?
The quote emphasizes that you must take a different approach or change your behavior if you want different results. At points in your athletic career, you will experience plateaus. It’s unavoidable.
For example, you may be a golfer who consistently finishes in the top ten in tournaments. However, you just can’t seem to get over the hump and win a tournament.
Or a basketball player who has improved their shooting percentage inside the arc but hasn’t been able to raise their three-point shooting percentage.
Or a senior national swimmer who has been stuck finishing with the same time in the 100 Freestyle for the past year. Feeling stuck at a particular level is frustrating, especially when you know you are a hard worker.
However, plateaus don’t mean you aren’t working hard or are in a slump. Even the hardest-working athletes get stuck. Actually, plateaus are part of the growth process. It’s like a puzzle to figure out. When you work to find a solution, you will eventually see significant performance gains.
However, many athletes get stuck in plateaus because they get comfortable. They practice the same things or the same way with little deviation. The reality is that what you have done in the past may not get you to where you want to go in the future.
Change is needed, whether that’s improving practice intensity, weight training, learning new mental skills, or tweaking your mechanics. To break through a plateau, you need something extra or different.
In other words, you must get comfortable being uncomfortable. UCLA center Lauren Betts has helped the No. 1-ranked Bruins to an 18-0 record to start the 2024-25 season.
Betts had a solid season in her sophomore year, however, she wasn’t satisfied with her production. So, Betts worked on her decision-making skills and conditioning in the offseason and preseason and took her game to the next level.
As a result, Betts is having a career year, averaging 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. Betts credited UCLA trainer Ashley Samaniego for helping her improve her quickness and mobility on the court.
BETTS: “On the mobility part, I got to give a shout-out to Ash (Samaniego), our trainer, because he kicked our butts all preseason long. This summer, I’m just working on fast sprints, just getting moving a little bit. I think that has to do a lot with how I’m moving [and playing] this year.”
The saying, “If you keep doing the same thing over and over, you will keep getting the same results,” is more than just a catchy phrase; it’s a call to action.
Athletic growth and next-level production require breaking free from repetitive patterns. The key is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Do something different. This may sound like a simplistic approach, but breaking out of comfort is never easy.
Each week, challenge yourself. For example, commit to 15 minutes of daily mental training or push yourself during conditioning sessions. Remember, tomorrow is built today!
Related Sports Psychology Article
- Sport Psychology Podcast: Improving Self-Confidence
- How to Reach Peak Performance In Athletics
- Building Confidence for Athletes: Tips from Experts
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