Commitments To Excellence Lesson 6 Goal: Improve performance by increasing level of commitment to excellence

http://failblog.org/2010/11/02/epic-fail- photos-soccer-goalie-fail/ It takes commitment to throw yourself at an incoming ball. A half-hearted player who only gives a half-hearted effort will find himself very far away from “closing the gap” to their true potential.

Commitment to Excellence Hernan Cortes mission was to conquer the Aztec Empire in Mexico. He landed there with 11 ships of armed men. When his men unloaded the ships, he had the ships destroyed to prove his commitment. His message was, “There is no turning back, we are completely committed”.

The Great Separator It’s commitment that separates the mediocre athlete from the great athlete. Committed athlete will do work that is required for excellence. Resulting in: faster improvement, staying focused in the clutch, and winning the close ones.

How to Determine Commitment You’re a college scout looking at two identical athletes. How will you choose the most committed? The Secret: watch them train! Commitment is reflected in an athlete’s training intensity. “Excellence is a result of daily action, excellence then is not an ACT but a HABIT”.

The Big Eight Accept Criticism Don’t be Afraid to Fail Maintain composure Set specific Daily Goals Mentally prepare before practice Commit to rest Correctly Learn something from everything Stay Positive An essential aspect of creativity Is not being afraid to fail. -Andre Agassi

1. Accept Criticism Don’t be defensive or apologetic Accept suggestions Learn what you can Continue to learn

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail General George S. Patton Once you’ve committed, don’t hold back Aggresively attack every opportunity By failing to act when you seen an opportunity, because you’re waiting for the “perfect” opportunity, you will miss much more than you’ll gain. The greater mistake is doing nothing, when the moment is ripe for attack! General George S. Patton

3. Maintain composure Do not allow your emotions to control you Do not give in to feelings of fear, hopelessness or rage Stay calm and focused Identify the mental breakdowns that cause you to lose emotional control Perfectionism Social approval or worrying too much about what others think Irrational Beliefs Fear of Failure Dwelling on Errors The 3 R’s: Recognize–Regroup–Refocus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YCg9JIIgw8

4. Set specific daily goals Decide what you wish to focus on each day This helps to maintain intensity You can see your success Outcome goals are those that compare the performances of athletes with those of other athletes. For example, win the state championship. Performance goals are used to improve an athlete's individual performance. For example, increase a baseball player's batting average from .325 to .335.  Process goals are used to improve the execution of a skill. For example, extend fully on the power clean. 

5. Mentally prepare before practice Builds intensity Prepares you for game day situations Maintains your focus

6. Commit to rest correctly You have to have discipline to train hard and rest hard Say no to friends if you need your rest Don’t undermine your own performance with too little sleep Reaction time, vigilance, learning and alertness are impaired by insufficient sleep

7. Learn something from everything Analyze each situation positive or negative Think “what is the take home message” Don’t throw a temper tantrum Difficult situations lead to greater learning

8. Stay positive Negative thoughts and emotions do more harm than good Uplift others Team builder vs. team wrecker

Journal Entry #2 This Journal Entry is all about YOU!! So please be honest with yourself as you go through these questions and evaluate where you are at. There is no right or wrong answer. Honest self reflection will help you more than anything. How committed are you to your sport? How do you demonstrate this commitment? How could you increase your commitment?