I often lead off with a quote by the great U.S College Basketball coach, John Wooden, and his personal motto for success. Wooden says, “Never cease trying to be the best you can be. That is under your control. Being better than someone else is not…Only when you effort is total can you claim true success.”
To me every person who embarks upon a sport must first ask of themselves: “What do I want from my sporting involvement?”
To me children should be gaining the following benefits from their involvement.
1. Enjoyment.
2. Friendship/Being part of a team/club/community.
3. Fitness
4. Learning Skills
5. Competition
The next question I pose is: “What do your team mates and coaches expect from your involvement in the team?”
Here I list the following expectations I believe people expect from someone who is part of a team.
1. You will do your best all the time.
2. You will help your team-mates at training and in a game.
3. You will be encouraging and enthusiastic.
4. You will be committed.
5. You will listen to the coach and try to follow what the coach wants you to do.
We often think in terms of how someone can help us, but team sport is all about how you can help the team. Here is a list of the things that I believe a player can do to help their team.
1. Encourage and instruct with your voice.
2. Encourage by a gesture - as simple as a pat on the back to a team mate.
3. Be committed to improving yourself.
4. Show a willingness to do what is best for the team.
5. Help a team mate whenever you can.
There are many ways we can improve in our sport without significant time commitment or lifestyle changes. Here again is a list of simple things to make some improvement.
1. Every time you attend a training session set yourself a small goal to achieve. It may be as simple as focusing on your marking.
2. Spend some time (say an extra ten minutes) after training or before training on a skill such as goal kicking.
3. Go to bed early before you play so you are fresh and ready for the game.
4. Don’t eat junk food, or at least not before you play.
5. Do some extra running. It may be two laps before training and after. Just to improve your fitness.
Being involved in a sport is about commitment. So do it.
1. Make a commitment to your club and team.
2. Make a commitment to improve and be the best you can be in your chosen sport.
3. Make a commitment to help your team-mates. Help make them better in their sport.
Ultimately success can be measured against how much responsibility you took for your performance and how much you helped others to achieve their best.
Peter Schwab is the Head Coach of Football at Wesley College in Melbourne. He is Chairman of the AFL's Match Review Panel and a former Hawthorn coach and Premiership player.
Also visit the Schwablog, on game plans and tactical scenarios on the AFL website.
