Are You on A Quest to be Your Best?
Every athlete WANTS to be the best athlete they can be, but not all athletes DO what is necessary to achieve their potential.
Intentions may set the tone for athletic improvement. However, athletic excellence requires intentional action.
An athlete who responded to one of our surveys sent the following question:
“My coach frequently tells me I have a lot of potential. What can I do to reach my potential?
First, you are on the right path because you are seeking ways to improve. Many athletes get stuck at a performance level because their wishes outweigh their actions.
These athletes attend practice instead of practicing with intention. They may have a vision of the athlete they want to be but do not set meaningful goals, have no action plan, nor do they search for ways to improve their game.
“Reaching your potential” can be restated as “reaching for your potential.” Reaching is an action; It’s striving to improve your game each day, whether that means extra practice, better nutrition, mental training, strength training, sustained focus in practice, etc.
You can work towards being the best athlete you can be by asking yourself one question each day: “What am I willing to do today to grow my game?”
Elite athletes push themselves to be their best by:
- Setting clear, challenging goals.
- Developing an action plan with specific steps to follow to achieve their goals.
- Taking inventory of their skills and what mental and physical skills need improvement.
- Finding ways to consistently challenge themselves in practice.
- Mentally preparing before each training session and competition.
- Seeking feedback from coaches, teammates, and mental game coaches to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement.
- Objectively evaluating performances and learning from mistakes.
- Competing in practice to normalize the feeling of competitive pressure.
- Staying committed and motivated throughout the season, even when progress is slow or setbacks occur.
- Pushing themselves out of their comfort zones.
Becoming the best athlete you can be is a process that requires dedication, discipline, and commitment to physical, mental, and technical self-improvement.
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson has accomplished much throughout her basketball career, including winning two consecutive WNBA Championship titles.
She earned the WNBA Finals MVP honors, receiving two regular season MVP awards, and being named Defensive Player of the Year twice.
Despite her accolades and achievements, Wilson continues her quest to reach her potential.
WILSON: “I just try my best to just to be a presence, to contest every shot… Everything I do, I’m going to try to be the greatest that I can be.”
To BE your best, you must DO your best in your preparation, training, practices, and competitions.
Throughout your career, you will have many opportunities to grow your game. You need to commit to the quest!
Create a personal motto. Think of how you want to be remembered or what you want to accomplish as an athlete.
Post your motto in visible places. Write your motto on your equipment to motivate you throughout training sessions.
Remind yourself of your motto before competitions, in warm-up, and during tough moments in competition.
Be the best version of you instead of trying to be like someone else who you think is doing better than you!
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- 5 Ways to Maximize Your Athletic Potential
- Mindset and How to Reach Your Athletic Potential
- 8 Tips to Unlock Potential in Sports
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“The Composed 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 your composure…