Even though my title is “strength and conditioning coach”, I am very much involved in a variety of capacities with the team’s I work with. With Montrose Christian, I work with the team year round, attend many practices, and sit on the bench (in coat and tie!) at EVERY game. I am a part of team meetings and events and make sure to know the pulse of not only the coaching staff, but of the players themselves.
In the last 10 years I have been able to work with and be a part of some very exceptional teams, and I know first hand what it takes for a team to be successful. Below are some questions you need to ask yourself and your teammates on a daily basis if you really want to be the last team standing… and win your state/conference championship. And with the season getting ready to start in the next few weeks, it is in your best interest to show some leadership and start answering these questions NOW. If you have any questions as to what your role on the team will be, I highly suggest setting up a one on one meeting with your coach before the season starts and find out what he/she thinks. Find out what they believe your strengths and weaknesses are. You might as well find out now while you still have a few weeks to work on your game! Plus it will show your coach you have the maturity and initiative to improve.
Only a very small percentage of high school players can say they won a state/conference championship. I have known and coached numerous elite level players who never won one. Here are some questions to ask yourself and your teammates before the season starts:
1) Aside from winning games, do you know what your team’s goals are? Is this being effectively communicated to the team?
2) Do you know what your role is on the team? Whether you are a starter, or rarely play in games, you still have a role!
3) Do you know your own strengths and weaknesses as a player? Do you know each of your teammate’s strengths and weaknesses?
4) Do you know what a good shot is? For you? For your team?
5) Do you prepare for practice with the same mentality that you prepare for games?
6) How do you prepare for games? How do your teammates? Do you prepare the same way if you are playing the worst team on your schedule as you do for the best?
7) Do truly believe that on any given night any team can beat you? Along those same lines do you believe that you can beat anyone?
If you can’t correctly answer all of these questions, then you and your teammates aren’t doing everything you can to win a championship.
“It is amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.”
If you would like to contact me about this blog, my MVP Vertical Jump Training DVD, my training and/or camps and clinics, please email me atAlan@StrongerTeam.com. I will respond as quickly as possible!
Train hard. Train smart.
Alan Stein, CCS, CSCS
Vertical Jump Expert