If we believe we are owed, we expect to get paid.
Athletes:
"I've put in extra work, now I should get more playing time."
"I've worked really hard in practice, now I should win more."
"I've made all these sacrifices, now I should be on the all-star team."
Parents:
"I've invested all this money, now my kid should get better."
"I've made all these sacrifices, now my kid should play more."
"I've paid for private coaching, now my kid should get recruited."
Coaches:
"I've invested all this time and energy, now my athletes should work harder."
"I've given them great drills, now we should win more games."
"I've done more than enough for this team, now they should step up." In other words, "If I do this, I get that."
Transaction at it's finest.
There's a big problem with this formula.
What happens when you don't get paid? What happens when you don't get what you think you are owed?
The blame game begins. The finger points out.
Athletes POUT. Parents LECTURE in the car ride home. Coaches have HISSY-FITS.
Athletes GIVE UP. Parents use GUILT. Coaches resort to PUNISHMENT.
This is the OPPOSITE of Mental Toughness. I'm a 2x Olympian and Mental Toughness Coach and I teach my clients that sport doesn't owe you anything. Stop expecting your transaction to go through.
Shift to transformation. Sport is a journey, not a walk around the block. A journey is something that changes you.
ATHLETES, when you work hard, put extra time in the gym, make sacrifices and become coachable, it's an investment in yourself. You're doing it to stretch, to grow, to transform into the best version of yourself.
PARENTS, the money you spend is an investment to help your athlete transform into the best version of themselves. You're doing it to help them stretch, grow, and transform into the best version of themselves (you too!).
COACHES, when you make huge sacrifices of your time and energy, when you run great drills, when you prepare for practices and games, it's an investment in yourself. You're doing it to stretch, to grow, to transform into the best version of yourself.
Sport builds character. It also reveals it.
When your transaction is denied, your character is revealed.
Want some help with this journey? A 1:1 call with me will change your athletes journey forever (yours too).
CHANGE DOESN'T TAKE TIME. IT TAKES COURAGEOUS ACTION.
Comments