The Makeup of Successful Athletes ~ Part I

By Administrator on January 22, 2018

14407 Coil Plus Drive, Plainfield, IL 60544
776 Burr Oak Drive, Westmont, IL 60559

By Jared McGriff-Culver ~ Director of Training, Tier 1 Athletic Performance

Successful athletes come in all shapes and sizes. However, most great athletes have characteristic that help shape their success. Today we are offering part one of a two-part series on those characteristics. How many attributes does your athlete possess?

1. Choose and maintain a positive attitude.
2. Maintain a high level of self-motivation.
3. Set high, realistic goals.
4. Deal effectively with people.
5. Use positive self-talk.

Attitude

Realize that attitude is a choice.
Choose an attitude that is predominantly positive.
View their sport as an opportunity to compete against themselves and learn from their successes and failures.
Pursue excellence, not perfection, and realize that they, as well as their coaches, teammates, officials, and others are not perfect.
Maintain balance and perspective between their sport and the rest of their lives.
Respect their sport, other participants, coaches, officials, and themselves.

Motivation

Are aware of the rewards and benefits that they expect to experience through their sports participation.
Are able to persist through difficult tasks and difficult times, even when these rewards and benefits are not immediately forthcoming.
Realize that many of the benefits come from their participation, not the outcome.

Goals and Commitment

Set long-term and short-term goals that are realistic, measurable, and time-oriented.
Are aware of their current performance levels and are able to develop specific, detailed plans for attaining their goals.
Are highly committed to their goals and to carrying out the daily demands of their training programs.

People Skills

Realize that they are part of a larger system that includes their families, friends, teammates, coaches, and others.
When appropriate, communicate their thoughts, feelings, and needs to these people and listen to them as well.
Have learned effective skills for dealing with conflict, difficult opponents, and other people when they are negative or oppositional.

Positive Self-Talk

Maintain their self-confidence during difficult times with realistic, positive self-talk.
Talk to themselves the way they would talk to their own best friend
Use self-talk to regulate thoughts, feelings and behaviors during competition.