The fruits of your labors are not always realized right away. Most people would agree while others would scream, “not fair.” It all depends on your point of view. You may know the “not fair” individuals all to well. When we speak these words we are claiming that we are the victims of circumstance. While disappointments may be present in our lives, it is in how we act in the face of these adversities that reveal our real mental game.
The past two years, I have worked with a high school girl’s basketball team. The team’s coach is a two time state championship. While at a different school, she was able to bring her team to the state level twice and win. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of that kind of win. It’s something that stays with you the rest of your life.
This coach transferred to a different school and was met with great success and countless wins. In her section, she has the most wins as coach in her section. Since at her new school she was able to bring her team to the sectionals five times. Each time her team met defeat even though they had the coaching and the talent to make it happen. Many would consider this a five-time failure, while this coach views it as five opportunities.
Her passion shows in her game and her coaching. Over the years, she was blessed with many outstanding athletes who have gone on to do great things in college and life. This coach called me on board last year to give her team that edge to cut through to become section champs, the coveted “Golden Ball”. I worked with her team who responded very well to the ideas presented to them. At the same time, I coached the coach to take these ideas to the next level. You have to understand that just because I know the answers, it doesn’t always mean that I can deliver them.
There is a certain relationship and trust between a coach and the athletes. After coaching the coach and staying on as a consults, the team was able to pull themselves together to be formidable opponents. Even though they were the lowest seed, they made it through the maze of competitions onto the sectionals. Their playing style came together and they seemed to get stronger with each competition. Finally, they were to face the top seed in the final sectional tournament.
The top seed team walked onto the court like they owned it. They would quickly discover that it’s not your credentials that make you champions; it’s your heart. The lowest seed team put their heart and soul into the game. Of course, they triumphed! No longer were they bride’s maids; finally they were the brides.
Now if you recall, this was their sixth attempt at the coveted “Golden Ball.” Each loss in the past only fueled the passion of both the coach and the team. They looked at their past as opportunities and never uttered the words, “not fair.” You see, they were never victims; they were never looking at the loss as an indication that it was all over. They were victorious and not the victim. They showed success and perseverance where others would have folded.
Does this happen to your team? What’s their mental mind set? Sometimes a coach outside the program can offer something that you can’t. I always say that it’s impossible to be the lifeguard and the swimmer at the same time. Perhaps the seeds we plant today can create the trees, which can provide shade for us in the future. Maybe you can envision that your future’s so bright, you gotta wear shades.
Until then…Peak into your future,
Coach Jim Guerci
jim@guerci.net
P.S. Catch the article of the team’s win below.
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080303/SPORTS02/803030348/1049/SPORTS0202
Here’s the video
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080302/VIDEO03/80302004/1049/SPORTS0202
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