"L" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

In this edition of characteristics of the elite athlete, we look at the letter "L". The first thing that comes to mind for most people is that the elite have a love for their sport, I have never really bought into that idea that you must love your sport in order to excel in it and obviously after reading Andre Agassi's book and the comments of many other elite athletes that a love for the game is not a prerequisite for excellence. One characteristic that I know is a factor in creating excellence is that other "L" word Labor. As has been said and will be said many times in the weeks ahead hard work is required across the board for high achievement. The elite are in no way shape or form lazy and if during any time in their careers they seem to get a little lazy their performance suffers. From all the labor that these athletes do they seem to create another word that gets thrown around a lot and that is luck. When opportunity and preparation collide in the battleground one athlete is deemed to be lucky to have gotten a break, when in fact had the athlete not learned the value of laboring in his craft the opportunity for success would have merely floated by.

"K" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

Probably the most notable trait that the average sportsman attributes to the elite is, that of possessing a so called killer instinct. While there may be something in our genetic make up that would enable some to kill their prey without any hesitation, in athletics I'm not sure that this scenario would fully apply. The elite all have a great sense of competition and knowing when their opponent is weakening or doubting ones abilities. In this way the so called killer instinct would be very prevalent, but the elite don't want to kill their opponents they want to have a good competitive effort, so that they may test their own skills under the toughest conditions. They also have a keen knowledge of their opponents weakness's and strengths and try to minimize their own inadequacies and capitalize on their opponents thus defeating them and reaching the goal of the elite which is to compete.

"J" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

Job noun 1. An action requiring some exertion; an undertaking. If we look at this definition of a job rather than the usual definition of an activity performed for a fee, it fits the elite athlete in a much different way. We have all seen athletes who treat their sport in a very job like manner. Punching in punching out. While putting in time is an essential part of becoming an elite athlete, just putting in time is no guarantee of success. The elite know that the key word in the definition of a job is exertion. There must be an extreme amount of exertion in the time that is being put into the job.

"I" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

Just like a Hollywood real estate agent talking about location, location, location as the most important thing to selling a home. Elite athletes are all about intensity, intensity, intensity. Intensity is important for a few reasons. First being, that in order to create top level motor patterns the intensity of the sequential firing of motor neurons must be intense. The harder,the more repetitive the firing of the electrical impulses the more mylenization occurs, which in turn makes the impulse less susceptible to interference. That means that under pressure the elite are more likely to still perform to the highest levels. Second, the elite know that the more game like that they can make practice the less the big stage will seem out of the ordinary to them. So if you want to improve your performance start by trying to be as game like in terms of intensity as you can, it will not only improve your skill set it will improve your ability to control yourself in competition as well.

"H" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

The head and the heart are two very different parts of the body in terms of performance in athletics, and there are no elite level athletes that are weak in the use of the head and the use of the heart. I'm not sure who to credit for this quote but it is quite true "Talent is a cheap commodity. What really matters is what goes on between your ears and in the middle of your chest" Elite athletes seem on the outside to be regular people who just happen to be great at whatever sport they are doing. But the more you get to know and talk with the elite athletes you start to see how very different they view competition and all the variables that go along with their sport. The more in depth you look the more you realize that their perspective is anything but normal or average. While the heart is sometimes a much easier thing to see outwardly than the head, it is by no means more or less important. The elites have an unbelievable ability to dig into their own will and summon strength enough to go through situations that most athletes cant even comprehend. On the outside there are a lot of athletes that look like they are fighting and trying but in reality it is just a bluff so that it appears that they gave a good effort. The elite care only about getting the best out of the ability they have and not what others may think of their performance.

"G" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

Goal driven... that's it that is possibly the most defining characteristic of the elite. They take on many different forms and types. Some write them down, some just in their head. Some long term, some just short. Some very detailed, some very simple. Some put them where they can see them all the time, some in a place that is seldom looked at. Some make them public for all to see, some keep them to themselves. Some have help doing them, some do them alone. Some don't even know that they are doing them, but all elite level athletes are driven to succeed by their goals!

"F" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

One great characteristic of the best, is their ability to finish. Not only do they finish in games and matches, they finish when no one else is around, whether it is in the gym or on the practice field. Which I believe comes from their ability to be farsighted, to know that they are working for something in the future, while also being able to focus on the present and finish the job right now. Because the elite have a great perspective on things they are very factual about what the state of their performance is or what their place in the game may be they don't fool themselves. Possibly the most obvious trait of the elite is that they are fighters, they have the uncanny ability to work through situations that lesser competitors simply cant handle, the ability to push through pain and continue to fight 'till the end.

"E" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

This weeks post brings on a hot topic word, Expectation. Is it better to have high or low expectations? Most elite level athletes seem to have very real expectations about themselves and their performances. They know what their training has been like they know what they can and cannot do and then have the confidence or humility to judge how well they might do in competition. How about excellence? Because most of the greats don't base their performance on others but on their ability to live up to their own version of self imposed excellence. One trait that you might not think of as readily, is that the best are efficient and make it look easy. The hours and hours of practice honing their skills makes the best become very efficient in their movement and mechanics. The last trait in the "E" post is that the best make no excuses for a loss or poor performance, they take complete responsibility for for their actions.

"D" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

In thinking about "D" words to describe elite athletes many come to mind, determined, detail oriented, diligent, decisive but three really stand out for me. Deliberate, now some might think of some athletes that seem to be the lackadaisical, free wheeler type who just seems to have natural talent and doesn't have to work for it, this is really not the case. If you look at how motor learning works, deliberate practice is one of the cornerstones of all skill acquisition. Great performers have deliberately practiced their skills. In order to be so deliberate in practice an athlete must be disciplined or each movement or skill would be different and thus no real motor pattern would develop. Having the discipline to do each movement requires the elite athlete to be exceedingly driven. There must be a hunger a burning desire in order to continue on in the face of extraordinary pain and frustration. If you really want to be an elite athlete you might want to spend some time with the characteristics that start with the letter "D".

"C" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

In this section of "characteristics" it is obvious the best are first and foremost great competitors. To compete against oneself , to become the best possible in ones field of endeavour is what elite athletes all do. Competition for elite athletes is the testing ground and culmination of all the hard work and sacrifice that they have been through. The bigger the stage the better they like it, competition brings out the best in the best. The elite are also in the best condition not only or always physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Conditioning comes from the preparation and work that all the elite do. As the result of the conditioning and competition the elite are also supremely confident in their abilities. Their confidence is not merely a wishful thought or fantasy but a deep understanding of the work and preparation that has come before.

"B" Characteristics of Elite Athletes

In this second blog on characteristics of elite athletes we look at the letter B. The trait that sticks out the most to me is that elite performers have been battle tested, they have been forged and hardened by the battle. The best seem to relish in loving the battle and all the stress and pressure that goes along with it. You cannot be sufficiently toughened with out going through the trials and tribulations of the battle. The second thing that is quite apparent is that the elite believe in their abilities. I didn't say they believe they can win, although most do believe that as well. I said I thought they believed that they possess the ability to win, which is far different from the statement about believing they can win. When you believe you possess the ability to win you fight scratch and claw to win. So believe in your ability and then go test it every chance you can under the heat of competition.

Characteristics of Elite Athletes A-Z

Over the next year I will be writing about what I believe are some of the outstanding characteristics of elite athletes and elite performance. This will be by no means a definitive list, just a starting point of comment and conversation. I hope to do a new topic, 26 in all, about every other week. So let's get started!
If you were to ask most coaches today what attribute they thought should top this list a fair share would undoubtedly say attitude, it seems to be almost politically correct to say that having a positive attitude is a prerequisite for elite performance. Upon further inspection I am not sure that being positive is all that important and here is why. I think that what matters the most is action. Actions taken with a positive attitude or good motive don't make any difference to the action. What matters is that you take the action. Many athletes who run around trying to be positive are really just lying to themselves about what they have actually done in practice or in game situations. Elite athletes have ambition and want to achieve and no amount of positive attitude will help you to achieve dreams and goals without action. And like the old saying goes "Goals without actions are fantasies" Please leave your comments or questions.

Best laid plans.......

I had planned on writing this post nearly three weeks ago but as the saying goes "life happens" The short version of the last few weeks is this, I signed up for the Z health r phase cert in San Diego and was pumped to get down there. My wife and kids were going to be going to Houston to visit friends and it seemed like it would all work out. On the way to LAX to bring the family to the flight and then off to the cert, we were oh so close then while sitting at a left turn light we were rear ended, the wife and kids seemed to be OK, just scared the paramedics looked them over they hopped into a cab and managed to safely make their flight. I was not quite so lucky I was looking to the left during impact and after a trip to the hospital my back and neck has been tweaked and looks like I will need some PT and chiro. In the mean time no training, practice or coaching for a while. However it will give me some time to start to write my blog posts on Characteristics of elite athletes from A-Z. Look for it in the next few days.

Texas

Just returned from texas and the national open 14s in frisco. My student had a pretty good tournament losing to the 5 seed in the main draw 2nd round and then went on to win 4 matches in the back. Didnt get any training done just spent hour after hour watching matches. Got back to training last night did a full med day of ETK with pullups and getups didnt feel to well but got it done back to a heavy day tomorrow.

Rolling Along

Things have been pretty smooth as of late,training going well doing my ETK routine and have been on Mondays doing snatches. Did 100 with a 30lb bell in a about 4 and half minutes, trying to work up weight wise to see if i can do the RKC probably in'10 unless the lottery comes through for me. I am going to do the Z cert in San Diego in June depending on housing so doesn't leave much cash for RKC. Practicing a little more going to play Nat 45s in doubles in June and maybe Nat 50s in a year we will see so far thank god for ZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Z Health Workshop

Many many thanks to level IV Z health practitioner Leslie Cordova of xplosivestrength.com for the great Z workshop she put on at Sunset Hills Country Club. We had a mix of athletes from world class triathletes to out of shape business men and she did a wonderful job assessing everyone and giving them their own drills to do to help them to move better and feel better. If you haven't tried Z health you owe it to yourself to check it out you can contact me or contact Leslie through her website directly. Training has been plodding along about the same, and starting to train for tennis a bit more, going to play national 45s this year and then train for a year for the national 50s if I can keep my body holding up. Keep checking back new project coming June 1st.

Another month gone by!

It has been a whole month since my last post and things have been busier than ever. The Family returned from grandma's and all the free time I had to do extra training and writing went right out the window. My training has slowed to usually 3 days a week and if I get a fourth day in I usually do deadlifts and some interval work, the rest of the days look like this, light day- 5 ladders of 3 rungs bottoms up kb clean and press 15 kb snatches turkish get up and pullups.
medium day- 5 ladders 4 rungs kb clean and press 20 swings turkish getup and pullups. heavy day-5 ladders of 5 rungs manmakers turkish getups and pullups. Seems to be working well right now, diet has been off the chart poor, way to much sugar but somehow body comp hasn't gone completely haywire though it has made workout days feel more difficult. Have a few new projects in the works my posts will be much more regular so stay tuned in.

OMG a New Post

It has been a while since posting here got out of the habit and have been teaching, training, researching, writing and working a ton. That being said I have found that the learning curve of things goes in cycles. Sometimes I just don't feel like I am going anywhere and other times it is full speed ahead. I have read some terrific books lately which I will write about more in the coming weeks and have been doing some fun consulting with some great athletes which I will follow up on later as well. Training has been going well back into a rhythm with ETK 3 days and deadlifts on the variety days. Need to do more interval work for body comp though. Look forward to sharing some new insights soon.

Pro of the Year!

At the USPTA California convention over the the weekend I was awarded the 2008 Professional of the Year for the California division of the USPTA. It was an unexpected honor and I was very humbled with the nomination and to actually win the award was one of the highlights of my career. Many thanks to Mike Gennette of district one and to all of the pros on the California convention committee for the recognition, it is much appreciated.

Busy Two Weeks

Well its been a couple of weeks since ive written anything but I have been really busy with players and trying to prepare for a couple of presentations I have coming up. Last saturday I did a presentation on strength and conditioning for tennis players at the California USPTA convention. It all went off very well with a lot of attendees that had great questions and some good insights with their own training. My personal training although a little inconsistent has been progressing well. Still doing the ETK ROP with added pullups and core work and on variety days getting in some intervals and deadlifts. Still loving the Z health, some how making my body feel better and better.

Moving along

Second week of workouts since surgery and things are feeling much better. I have been very good (unlike me) and have been slowly building back up in weights as not to get injured or overwork and lose motivation. This week was all ETK ROP with a light bell 30lbs with pull ups and core work, planks, bridges and did a full compliment of get ups, still a little rough getting up with the left wrist on the ground don't quite have the range of motion or strength yet. On the variety days doing ( no laughing) dead lifts at 150 lbs in 5x5s with pistols mixed in and intervals on the bike. Been also doing alot more Z work and the body is feeling better and better. Reading Mike Nelsons blog and MCs geekfit blog both have great stuff to say.

First Post of 09

Hope every ones New Years and holidays were great, the family and I had a terrific time. After some time to get my workouts straitened out I feel like I am back on track getting back to doing ETK ROP on a regular basis, and started doing deadlifts and pistols again on the variety days. Along with that I have been getting back into doing some Z-health exercises. Many thanks to MC from England who is a RKC Z practitioner and a PH.D (geekfit.com) for her great insight into my glute medius problem. She turned me on to Leslie Cordova who is a Z -health practitioner in Long Beach who did an assessment with me and gave me some high payoff drills to do and has really made a difference. If you haven't had the chance to check out Z -health I strongly recommend it.