Intro
I coach basketball, I used to play but I got to old, so now I just coach. It was the first game of the season the other day. It was exactly the type of game that I like. It was close for most of the game, the lead went back and forth a couple of times and then my team managed to pull ahead and get a good lead, eventually winning by 11 points. The game was much closer than the 11 point final score, with us actually going down 3 points in the fourth quarter. Based on all the work the guys did in preseason I was really confident that we would win the game. I knew our guys were good enough to win, we just had to exert a little more effort, pull together as a team and get the job done. In the fourth quarter I called a time out, from memory we were down by a point but the momentum was with us, I could tell the tide was turning. I called the time out to give the guys a quick break and to refocus their collective mind. In the time out I did not talk tactics or draw up any plays for the team to execute. I complimented the team on their effort and then said the following, 'This is why we train hard....so we can enjoy moments like this!!!!!' Inspired!!!!! The guys looked at me and nodded, understanding what I was meaning. I told them to have fun, play hard and see what happens. What happened was a great run that saw us stop them scoring whilst we got some easy baskets, going into the lead and then winning the game. The passion, fearlessness and execution from the guys was great to see. They all relished the first win of the season. We have a long way to go, but this was a good positive step in the right direction. After the game I reflected on that line I said in the time out and I started to dwell on it. So I though I would use it to develop a new post for my blog. Although this all happened within the context of a basketball game there are some important lessons we can learn that may help us be better in other areas of life. Put our hard work into context So often we just put our heads down and work, work, work. We toil for the sake of toiling. We forget that working hard has a purpose. If we are just working hard and not enjoying the fruits of our labour then what is the point of all that hard work? I have been a basketball coach for well over 10 years now and my viewpoint on training and competing is this: Work hard in practice so that competition is fun. The main point of doing all the fitness training, all the running, cycling, shooting practice and stretching is so that in a competitive game you are able to compete. You are in the fight. The games are the reward for all the training, all the sweat and hard work. Competing is the focal point of all the preparation. This is as true in the rest of life as it is in basketball. Going the extra mile at home to please your partner, doing extra research at work so you are prepared for that important meeting, sending that text to your friend to ask how the interview went. Doing all the little things contextualise your relationships, your work, your friendships. They help build companionship, sound knowledge and strong bonds of friendship and will help weather the storm when things get rough. Back to our game, when I contextualised our teams hard work and reminded them that they had worked hard for this very moment they went onto the court with no worry, no fear and with conviction. Our opponents spent the time out shouting at each other and on court they came apart while we grew together. Putting the hard work into context gave our team a confidence to go and perform. So no matter what you are doing put in the hard work, but please make sure you take the time to enjoy your labour. To remind the guys to enjoy themselves For the last part of this game our team genuinely looked like they were enjoying themselves. The guys on the bench were whooping and cheering, the guys on the floor were pumping fists and high fiving at every opportunity. It was all very alpha male type stuff, but it was great to see. This should have been a stressful time of the game as we did not have a big enough lead to relax. For those non basketball types out there, a six point lead can get wiped out in a matter of seconds, so being six points up with seven minutes to go is very nerve wracking. Our guys relished the challenge and went onto the court smiling. They were able to enjoy the competition. It is so important to remember to enjoy ourselves in everything that we do. Learning this type of mindful approach to stressful situations takes time and takes a lot of conscious thought, however once you realise that the in order to thrive in a stressful situation is to control your own reactions to it you put yourself in a much more powerful position to be successful in that situation. Enjoying yourself in the heat of competition, in an important board meeting, in a challenging family situation (a 4 year olds tantrum because the yogurt is the wrong flavour maybe!!!) will help you turn the situation to your advantage because you are thinking positively and in a clear, rational manner. Positive energy builds positive actions Lastly, I am a big believer in what you put out you will get back. In the sports area if you spew negativity people stop wanting to play with or play for you. Think of the kid on the street that always cries when they don't get their way. No one wants to play with them after a while. The basketball teams I have played and coached over the last decade have enjoyed success at their level of play mainly because of attitude. The players on the team work really hard on individual relationships both on and off the court to ensure we stick together. When new players join the team at the start of a season I love seeing the surprise on their face at the end of their first practice when one of the long term players come up and give them a big firm hug. We together have created a fun, competitive, loving family that goes out and competes hard every game. The team pride themselves on their specific style of play and approach to adversity. When the chips are down the guys stick together and dig their heals in. They recognise hard work and effort in the good times and the tough. They stay positive and this leads to positive actions. The guys do not play the blame game, they take responsibility for their actions and they pick each other up when the going gets tough. So please, when you find yourself in a stressful situation please take time and breath and try to control your own actions. Who know, you might even end up enjoying yourself!!!! Peace and Happiness Friends.
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AuthorMy name is Andy Smyth, I have spent the last decade working in the field of Sports Development, where I have had the pleasure of working to grow leaders within local community sports clubs in Scotland. Archives
August 2017
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