Friday Night Lights Speech

Well I want you to understand something. To me, being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there. It’s not about winning. It’s about you and your relationship to yourself and your family and your friends. Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn’t let them down, because you told them the truth. And that truth is that you did everything that you could. There wasn’t one more thing that you could have done.

Mental Toughness in Sports - Up Your Game with Mental Imagery

How Mental Imagery Works

When an athlete imagines himself performing to perfection, he is physiologically creating neutral brain patterns that are similar to small tracks engraved in the brain cells. This enables the athlete to perform certain stratgies, moves, tricks, etc. by mentally practicing those tasks first in his mind. Mental imagery is intended to train the athlete's mind, thus showing the body exactly how to react or perform when during practice or competition

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Practical Application of Mental Imagery

It’s true that we move closer to what we focus on. If an athlete imagines missing a shot, or how good the other team is, or even fears injury, it harms his game concentration and affects the outcome. It’s absolutely essential that athletes visualize success and victory.  Steven Balzac, a psychology professor and former nationally ranked fencer says, “If we imagine success, we prepare ourselves for success because that’s what’s in our heads.” Remember that we if don't beleive in ourself and our abilities, no on else will for us.

It’s important to remember that athletes use imagery in different ways. Their imagery may not involve just visual images, but sounds, smells or touch. It really depends on the person. Another important aspect of mental imagery is for the athlete to watch and study his sports heroes and imagine that he is making those same shots with precision. Does this mean the athlete will always perform at top level? No…we’re human and we all have bad days on occasion. But visualization and mental imagery increases the chance of increased and sustained success.

Results of Mental Imagery

Of course physical practice is always the best way for an athlete to improve his skill level and race to the top of his game. However, mental imagery is better than no practice at all and, incorporated with physical practice, is the best way to see optimal results. Continuous studies are always being conducted to determine just how much mental imagery plays into the increased success of athletes. And, for the rest of us, imagining ourselves more successful is never a waste of time if we are also spending equal or more time physically developing our skill set. The time spent in mental imagery is beneficial not only to the athlete but to the business person, the student, the entrepreneur, and anyone else who desires to develop and increase their level of play. The more mental imagery is studied; more effective techniques can be developed and adapted by athletes…and the rest of us.

 

"So basically it's up to you mentally whether or not you are going to up your game. If you want to land that 1080 on your snowboard, think it out and visualize every aspect from the approach, the takeoff, movements while in the air and a perfect landing. It doesn't matter whether you compete in action sports or mainstream sports, mental imagery will increase your chances of success." ~Kyle Bingham~
 
(Portions of article courtesy of Michelle Hill http://www.winningproof.com/)

"Winners do what Losers won't!"

"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision."
Muhammad Ali

SKLZ - Your Performance Training Tools Resource

SKLZ is the innovator in athletic training, and is the premier developer and marketer of athletic performance and skill development training products for serious athletes of all ages. The flagship brand of Pro Performance Sports, SKLZ delivers broad lines of training products across a variety of sports, including baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse and more. SKLZ focuses on transforming innovative concepts into effective sports training products that help athletes reach their full potential. With international headquarters in San Diego, California, the company delivers durable, high-performance trainers that can be found internationally at major sporting goods retailers, specialty shops, and mass merchants. (courtesy of http://www.sklz.com/)

SKLZ basically offers 2 different ways to train:

1. Skill - Get better at your sport.

• - Skill Training includes: Baseball, Golf. Fastpitch, Soccer, Basketball, Football, Lacrosse, Racquet and Volleyball.

2. Performance - Be more athletic.

• - Performance Training includes: Speed, Agility, Quickness, Power, Acceleration, Strength, Lateral Movement, Vertical Leap, Balance and Core Strength.

So when you are ready to take your game to the next level, SKLZ is your answer!

New Baseball Training System includes 5 tools to enhance speed, quickness, strength and reaction time.

Attitude Reflects Leadership

I had  request from a follower to post this clips for Remember the Titans. This interaction between these two players without a doubt quotes one of the most powerful statements about leadership in sports that I have ever heard.

Julius: "Nobody plays! Yourself included! I’m supposed to wear myself out for the team? What team?! No, No. What I’m gonna do is, I’m gonna look out for myself, and I’m gonna get mine."
Gerry: "See, man? That’s the worst attitude I ever heard."
Julius: "Attitude reflects leadership, Captain."

Next time you step on to that football field, soccer field, basketball court or any other sport for that matter ask your, Am I a leader on this team? If so, are you effective? Are you a good example for those that may be watching on or off the field?

Vince Lombardi - The true definition of Committment!

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don’t do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

“Unless a man believes in himself and makes a total commitment to his career and puts everything he has into it – his mind, his body, his heart – what’s life worth to him?”

“Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.”

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”

“I would say that the quality of each man’s life is the full measure of that man’s commitment of excellence and victory – whether it be football, whether it be business, whether it be politics or government or what have you.”

Becoming Perfect

" Well I want you to understand somethin'. To me, being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there. It's not about winning. It's about you and your relationship to yourself and your family and your friends.

 

Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn't let them down, because you told them the truth. And that truth is that you did everything that you could. There wasn't one more thing that you could've done.

 

Can you live in that moment, as best you can, with clear eyes and love in your heart? With joy in your heart?

 

If you can do that gentlemen, then you're perfect."