The Navy SEALS like to say, “Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, instead you sink to the level of your training.”
Very few athletes are true “gamers” in that they can show up on game day and flip a switch. Most athletes need to prepare and build good habits, so they can call upon their skills when needed.
In order to best prepare your athletes to face certain situations during games, you need to inspire them.
Here are seven ways you can make your practice sessions a little more creative in order to increase their effectiveness…
Have you ever received a pearl of wisdom? You probably have but might not have thought of it in that way. This might be a phrase that you are unfamiliar with. Webster’s dictionary defines the phrase pearl of wisdom as a wise word or statement. It also goes on to say that it is sometimes humorous. The example it gives is “A crowd of reporters gathered around the coach after the game to hear him dispense his usual pearls of wisdom.”
Jerod Ward was the #1 high school basketball player in the country in 1994. As the top recruit, he could choose to play college ball anywhere and he chose The University of Michigan. Multiple knee surgeries kept him from achieving his NBA dream but he still had a solid four year career for the Wolverines helping them beat Duke three straight years, win the National Invitational Tournament and the Big Ten Tournament. Jerod then went on to have a long career playing professional basketball worldwide. Jerod now travels across the country as a professional speaker. He has even been on stage for a Tedx Talk presenting on the topic of EATing Adversity. Even though he is retired from playing basketball, Jerod still stays close to the game he loves as he works as a college basketball analyst with networks including ESPN, FOX Sports. Jerod lives in Sarasota, Florida with his wife Tricia and daughter Violet.
In today’s episode, we discuss: