Part II
Most student-athletes strive for the same thing… greatness! And, as parents, we do everything in our power to help our athletes get there! To become great, or just better at your sport, requires commitment, hard work, and sacrifice. It also requires a plan! There are several ways you can improve as an athlete: training, videos, personal trainers, books, and so much more. But, no matter your sport, there are a few fundamentals every athlete should take to heart, memorize and practice on the daily! Last week, I addressed the body. This week, I address the sport. Do you want to become a better athlete? Parents, do you want to help your athlete become better? Then read on!
Let’s look at your sport, but first…
- A Solid Foundation
As was stated last week, your body is your “bread and butter.” You have to take care of it, and that can’t be stressed enough! With that being said, the importance of stretching, overall conditioning (not sport specific), overall strength building exercises, mobility and injury prevention, and aerobic exercise cannot be stressed enough. Why, you might ask?
All of these exercises are designed to improve your foundation (your body). By laying a solid foundation, you prepare your body for the more intensive sport specific workouts. You reduce the likelihood of injury, build up stamina, increase the ability to go harder, and fatigue slower. Lay a solid foundation, and you will be ready for what comes next!
Now… your sport!
- Master The Fundamentals
First and foremost… you need to have a good grasp of the fundamental skills of your sport. Fundamentals are the foundation upon which you build! If you play basketball, learn and master the fundamentals of dribbling, shooting, etc., before you get in to “ally ooops,” “behind the back passes,” and “fancy dunks.” If you play football, master the fundamentals of footwork, proper tackling techniques, balance and coordination, etc. If you’re a soccer player, master the skills of passing, shooting, and receiving, etc. The premise is that every sport has fundamental skills that athletes need to learn and master. Don’t underestimated the importance of doing so!
Mastering fundamental skills gives players a foundational understanding of their sport and the game. Mastering skills build confidence and muscle memory.
- Master Sport Specific & Position Specific Skill Sets
As you master the fundamentals, you incorporate sport specific, and position specific training. What that looks like will depend upon your sport and the position you play/compete within your sport. A track athlete’s training program will look different from a football players program. Within the field of track, a sprinter’s program will look different from that of a long-distance runner. And that’s the same for all sports. A lineman on the football team requires different training from that of a linebacker. Different positions require different skill sets. You lay your foundation, and build upon it by building your sport/position specific skill sets.
- In Addition To
Develop power, improve speed and performance, build endurance through engaging in a strength training program. Make sure you learn the fundamentals of lifting, before engaging in a weightlifting, strength training program. Train your core muscles. Strong core muscles keep muscles across your body in balance. Master the fundamentals of pre-game/workouts/training sessions warm ups and post-game/ workouts/training sessions cool downs. These warm-ups and cool-downs are more important than athletes realize.
- Be Consistent & Patient
You can’t slack off on trainings, practice half of the time, workout inconsistently and expect to be an amazing athlete. Everything you do has to be done with intentional consistency and self-discipline. Even 30 minutes a day makes a huge difference. But you must also be patient. Be smart about how you work out and how long you work out! Don’t over exert yourself because you are trying to master a specific skill in record time. Be patient! If you are consistent and intentional with your workouts, practices, etc., mastery will come.
A great athlete is a well rounded one. And, as you can see, there is a lot that goes in to that! To become great, or just better at your sport, requires commitment, hard work, and sacrifice. If you stay committed, continue to work hard, maintain balance, stay consistent, sacrifice, and more, you will see progress and success!
Resources
Do You Want To Become A Better Athlete? Part I
Fundamentals of Basketball Video
Fundamentals of Football Video
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