1. Believe: An athlete MUST believe from within! Having a supporting cast may help amplify this belief and confirm their vision.
The one character trait that all athletes must poses in order to be successful is determination. During competition and/or in training, athletes push their bodies to the limit. And as they climb the ranks of their sport the competition becomes stiffer and more condensed.
Having the power of belief and knowing that you belong, will propel your game to the next level. Possessing phenomenal talent alone might get you into the conversation, but your talent cannot be actualized without believing from within.
2. Setting Goals: Define your own expectations and choose the right situation for you.
Before every practice, competition, game, and/or season an athlete must define their own expectation. Create a road map with check points that will get you from Point A (your current position) to Point B (your end goal).
3. Progressive Strength & Conditioning: Enhance athletic movement patterns, correct body alignment, while becoming physically and mentality stronger! (build a winning attitude).
Games, seasons, and competitions are lost due to lack of physical preparation by athletes. An athlete who possesses natural ability will definitely have an edge over their competition. However, preparing your body and mind to withstand the rigors of repetitive movements will set you apart from the rest.
4. Nutrition & Lifestyle: Learn the necessary life skills and protocols in order to fuel your body through food, supplementation, preparation, and relaxation.
The old saying, “You are what you eat”, definitely applies here. Balancing your athletic career and social life while adopting “smart eating habits”, will enable your body to recover more efficiently and sustain your current results.
5. Chiropractic, Massage & Stretch Therapy: Treat your body like a High-end Automobile.
Your body is your temple! This temple must to be structurally sound in order to avoid significant injury and function at its best. Working with a knowledgeable therapist will keep you out of the trainers room and in the game.
6. Study Visually: Learn the game.
Become a student and master of your realm. All athletes and/or teams have tendencies that either hinder or enhance their game/techniques. Utilize modern day technology and study film on yourself and scout your competition in order to gain an edge.
7. Enhance Technique: Commit yourself to getting better.
In order to put your best effort forward, an athlete must eliminate their weaknesses. Start by working backwards (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) and highlight your weaknesses to your strengths. Allowing yourself to admit that you need to get better, will eliminate complacency and set you on a path to greatness.
8. Yoga & Pilates: Enhance body control and mobility.
Power Vinyasa: An athletic based practice held in a heated room, allowing for the perfect balance between strength and flexibility.
Deep Flow: A slower paced practice where you hold poses for longer periods of time, which will enable your body to release tension and stress.
Yin: The intention of this practice is to stretch out the connective tissues in your ligaments and joints. Poses are held for time (2 - 20 minutes) and props are utilized in order to enhance stretch and release. In addition, different breathing and visualization techniques are used to create optimal impacted (master your senses).
Pilates: Works on intergrading connective tissues while addressing muscle misfires and imbalances that can hinder your body’s performance.
9. Practice/Scrimmage: Implement newly found strength and skills.
Time to get out onto the ice, field, court, mat, grid and/or track to compete while implementing all new adjustments. Interact with your peers and continue to develop consistency into your game.
10. Inspire: Lead by example!
Inspire your peers, community, and those who look up to you to be BETTER! Inspire them to believe from within and unite them to become ONE!
Follow these 10 steps and may your athletic future be bright!