Most people disagree with me, but I'm OK with that.
I believe that if you are truly passionate about what you're doing growth is infinite.
Often when we talk about the greats in sport, music, chess, (name the arena-pun intended), we mention their God-given gifts. Yes, I think genetic gifts may make it a little easier and/or faster to get to the top of your field, (the wing span of Michael Phelps), but what explains the ones that also have those gifts, (6’7” wingspan), and don’t get to the top, or the ones without advantageous genetics that find a way? We are all aware of Tom Brady’s story coming out of Michigan. How did Steph Curry become one of the greats at 6’2'“ when the average height in the NBA is almost 6’7”? (Spud Webb, Isaiah Thomas anyone?)
Tennis-The Williams Sisters: Started young, and had to find a way to get on courts, in tournaments. (Great movie-King Richard, 2021)
Hockey-Gretzky: Backyard rink, he was on incessantly as a child.
Football-Jerry Rice: His father was a bricklayer and he would work with him every summer. Dad would toss him bricks for 8-10 hours a day, he’d have to catch them and then lay them.
Golf-Tiger Woods: We’ve all seen the video of him swinging a club at a very young age.
What do they all have in common?
An unflinching passion, that began at a young age, and guided everything they did. Their love of the sport motivated them to choose to put in the time.
They took a long-term approach. They hammered their fundamentals and built everything else on those fundamentals. They didn’t get bogged down in where they were, they had their eyes on something further out, something bigger.
I was talking to my team one day and letting them know I understood that they made sacrifices that other youngsters didn’t have to make, (giving up social events their high school peers were attending). One of my athletes interrupted me to ask if she could say something, and I obliged. This is what she said; “Coach it isn’t a sacrifice, it’s a choice, and frankly an easy one.” Who is this athlete? You may not know her yet, but her name is Megan Carter, and fresh out of Northeastern University she signed her rookie contract with the PWHL Toronto Septres for the 2024-25 season.
Why am I OK with most people disagreeing with me?
Because of this belief, I chose to take a Carol Dweck- Growth Mindset approach to coaching. If we’re all capable of great things we’re passionate about then I’m never going to give up on any of my athletes. If I haven’t gotten through to them, I need to teach it differently, be more concise in my communication, show more video clips, and ask more questions. I need to keep trying different methods and expanding my knowledge base. The alternative is to write them off because they weren’t given the gifts. No thanks!
PS: Did you hear it? I think Michael Jordan agrees with me!