Teaching Competitiveness
by Stan Jones, Former Associate Head Coach, Florida State University Basketball.
The following is from The Coaching and Leadership Journal Substack
Tom Brady was quoted, “Every quarterback can throw a ball; every running back can run; every receiver is fast; but it is mental toughness that translates into competitiveness.”
In today’s world most kids never have the opportunity to learn the mental toughness to earn what they get. The neighborhood rivalries are rare. Going to the playground and waiting your turn then having to win to stay on the court are long since passed.
The video game world of just reset if it’s not going well is the easiest thing in the world to give into. So, when the dog-eat-dog real world is shown to a youngster it is something they do not recognize or feel comfortable in.
As coaches, in today’s environment, we must first make this an educational component for our players and their families. We must teach from day one about the realities of competition. We must remain consistent in teaching our players that they earn what they get.
The former Prime Minister of Australia and the first woman to hold this position, Julia Gillard, understood this. She told her constituents, “Our future growth relies on competitiveness and innovation, skills and productivity and these in turn rely on the education of our people.”
By Stan Jones, Florida State Associate Basketball Coach
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