Strong Vincent Softball

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE AN ATHLETE!!!

From: San Jose Fury Softball

Being an athlete does not imply merely wearing the uniform and being just a member of the squad. There are many more important phases to think about if you want to be a winner, not in the court and field but in life as well.

Your coaches want to impress you with the importance of the following qualities absolutely necessary for every good athlete.

  1. ARE YOU COACHABLE? Can you take coaching? Can you take criticism without ever looking for an alibi? Are you a "know it all"? Will you always do your best to try to improve?
  1. ARE YOU POSSESSED WITH THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION WHICH FIRES INTENSITY AND DESIRE TO WIN? Do you want to win with a passion—never taking "no" for an answer when there is a job to be done? Does it bother you to lose?
  2. ARE YOU WILLING TO PRACTICE? Not just reporting and putting in the necessary time but working every day with the same enthusiasm, do you have two speeds – a practice speed and a game speed? The great athletes have one speed, and its the same every day, every practice every game. If you loaf and cheat in practice, you will loaf and fail in a game.
  3. ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE SACRIFICES? Conditioning to compete is not fun. It is not easy. It is stark punishment. Training is demanding, the responsibility is heavy. It is rough and includes personal denials in order to remain in tip-top condition, but it has its rewards. The only way for you to remain in good shape is never to get out of it.
  4. DO YOU HAVE A GREAT DESIRE TO IMPROVE? Are you willing to practice the things you cannot do three times longer the things you can do? Are you willing to put in long grinding hours, concentrating on a skill until you perfect it? Are you eager to work so diligently at the skills you lack, that they eventually become your strongest assets? Some people spend too much time doing what they already do well. They never improve.
  5. DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMPETE UNDER PRESSURE? Can you concentrate on the job to be accomplished at the moment? Can you shut out from your mind a previous failure, success, rule infraction, or personal insult in order to give undivided attention to the here and now? Games are not won by yesterday’s scores, but by what is happening now, at this moment. Good athletes rise to the occasion – never depending on past success to aid them.
  6. DO YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR SCHOOL, YOUR TEAM, and YOUR COACH? Your team is as good as you make it. Your coaches are given the responsibility of coaching not their team, but your team. Are you willing to work towards that spirit of unity so that everyone possesses the feeling of belonging through your contributions?
  7. ARE YOU MENTALLY PREPARED? Whether for practice or a game, your mental preparation prior to the activity will greatly determine the success you will experience and the contribution you will make.
  8. DO YOUR "HONEST" BEST - Your effort will measure the amount of pride you bring to your participation. Ultimately, only you will know whether you have been the best you could be. And, truthfully a real winner will, at best, only feel satisfied, as he/she will always spot areas in which they would like to improve. Set a goal for yourself.