Giving Back

It is fairly typical of athletes at any level to be self-centered.  After all sports has a winner and loser, stats, playing time, etc.  It can create an environment where all you think about is yourself, your role on the team, your performance, your next game, your workouts, etc. 

It is nice to step outside this tiny world to take the focus off yourself and put it on others.  Recently our team at Sacred Heart did this through an elementary school read a loud and a youth baseball camp.  I'm no dummy.  Given the choice, I am sure they would all rather do something for themselves, sleep being high on the list.  But if you ask every play involved if they enjoyed the experience, grew because of it, and felt good about themselves for doing so, you'd get a yes across the board. 

So when you can, try to set up something for yourself or for your team where you are in a situation where the focus is off you and on others.

Coach Mazz
www.WayneMazzoni.com
www.GetRecruited.Net

Can You Build Mental Toughness?

The answer is a resounding yes.  The fact is, it's simple.  Simple, not easy.  Let me give a personal story and then relate it to your situation.
One day a week a do a distance run on the beach.  I like it because I can be outside, take my dog, and it's the beach!  However, without really being aware of it, I have built in expectations that certain things will happen.  Here are some of them...

• My laces will stay tied
• I won't get a blister
• My ipod will stay charged and the headphones will work.
• The tide won't come up and soak my feet.
• My dog will not run off and chase other dogs or horses (yes, horses).
• The weather will be nice, especially a lack of wind.
• But most of all, I hope it's low tide.  At low tide, the sand is firm and I can run sort of like I do on teh street.  At high tide, it's not quite quick sand, but close.  

I found that I always expected things to go my way and I would get frustrated and defeated if things didn't.
What I did was make a few changes in my attitude.
First, I stopped expecting everything to go perfectly.  I still want things to be ideal, but I don't need or expect them to.  I prefer them to, but again, don't need them to.
Secondly, when things don't go as planned, I simply chalk it up to a challenge that I can overcome.  I want low tide, but if it's high tide, rather then be bummed, I say "oh yeah, you think you can slow me down- - doubt it!"
Next time you find yourself frustrated with a coach, teammate, equipment, umpire, referee, instead of being defeated by it, add it to your challenge pile.  Then after you handle them, look back and congratulate yourself with your behavior.  Additionally, it can also help to visualize or plan for these things ahead of time.  Sure you want to envision success and everything going right, but to also plan for facing challenges is a great way to be prepared for trouble when it will inevitably come your way.
All athletes, all people, all humans, have challenges and when we deal with them in a reasonable manner we increase our mental toughness.
Good luck.
Coach Mazzoni
Coach Mazzoni has recently launched www.getrecruited.net which is a program for high school athletes and their parents that need guidance on the athletic recruiting process.

Get Recruited Website

Lesson Learned From Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman

I had the good fortune of getting to meet Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman last night at a Sacred Heart event.  Prior to their appearance on stage I had some time to talk about some things as it related to their careers which was further stated once they took the stage.

What I took away was how patience and long term thinking are often rewarded.  First off, both men started as bottom of the barrel interns and advance to GM's.  That alone shows their patience, intelligence, and perserverance. 

Further, both view their roles and their organizations in the same way.  They have long term values that they will not trade for the short term.  A good lesson for us all.