"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.