"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.