In high performance sports you have a relatively simple equation to evaluate performance – you either win or lose. When you lose, it is natural to look for the reasons “why”.
A critical aspect in understanding the “losing process” is to find the answer to the following question: “Were you outplayed or out-talented?”
What does it mean to be out-played? Being outplayed means that your opponent planned and prepared better than you did.
Being out-talented means you were beaten by someone who possessed a superior athletic talent. For example, in the golden era of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s if you were unlucky enough to come up against Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman and company then you were always going to be “out-talented”.
However, sporting loses due to being out-talented are very, very, very, rare. What’s the difference?
The difference between being out-talented and out-played is that being out- played is totally your own fault and you had complete control and responsibility over your own preparation.
The most important principle in competitive sport:
The most important principle in competitive sport is that you as an individual must out- prepare, in every aspect, on and off the field, in training and self management areas your opponent. It doesn’t matter if you are in an individual sport or in a team sport: You, as an individual must out-prepare in every aspect the person you will be competing against.
Competitive sport is not a handicap event:
You either win or you lose. Excuses do not count. Blame does not improve performance. It is pointless blaming losing on having “less talent” than you opposition
unless, you know with absolute certainty, that you have prepared better in every aspect than they did.
Control the Controllables.
In high level sports it is common for athletes and coaches to look to blame factors
outside their control for their failures.
“They had more money than we did”.
“They had more support staff and better access to facilities and sports science”. “They had the best of lucky breaks from officials and referees when it mattered”. “They had a better group of players than we did”.
All these factors can influence the result of games, matches and even seasons but, they do not overcome the basic requirement of responsibility for optimal personal preparation for every athlete, coach, support staff member and manger in the organization.
Let’s look at 20 (and there are hundreds) of the key factors in preparation that you as an athlete or as a coach have complete control over and therefore have complete responsibility for:
You are responsible for every mouthful of food you eat
You are responsible for every drop of fluid you drink
You are responsible for every drop of alcohol you drink (or don’t drink)
You are responsible for both the quantity and quality of your sleep.
You are responsible for your level of commitment to and engagement with your
training program.
You are responsible for studying your sport and understanding who/where
the benchmarks are in all aspects of planning, preparation and performance.
You are responsible for the way you interact with and communicate with
team members, support staff, members of the public and other people
involved in your club or organization.
You are responsible for the way you look (i.e. dress codes, personal standards –
“professionalism”.
You are responsible for your attitude to training, preparation, and playing
You are responsible for saying “no” at times which can impact negatively on
your preparation and performance (e.g. mid to late evening in social situations,
saying no to alcohol, reduced sleep, etc
You are responsible for managing your own travel stress, i.e. eating,
drinking, sleeping, etc. during your travel periods;
12. You are responsible for your recovery program;
13. You are responsible for the attention to detail to skills practices and
learning;
You are responsible for maintaining a balanced lifestyle and keeping mentally
healthy;
You are responsible for the attention to detail and a methodical systematic
approach to planning your preparation and competition program;
You are responsible for your level of passion, drive, and enthusiasm;
You are responsible for being consistent in preparation;
You are responsible for managing you own time;
19.You are responsible for understanding who you are and living according
to your own set of personal values;
20.And...you are responsible for out-preparing in every aspect, your
opponent. Conclusion:
Loses in sport which can be 100% attributed to being out-talented are very very rare: most of the time you have been out-played;
Being out-played means you were out-prepared;
And being out-prepared means the loss was largely your own responsibility;
Take personal responsibility for the “controllables”, out-plan and out-prepare
your opponent in every aspect and you have the opportunity to win more often.
**Remember to
Always plan ahead for what you are going to eat
Obtain adequate amounts of protein
Work on Flexibility
Supplement your diet with a fish oil and multi-vitamin
Let me know if I can help. Email me at architechsports@gmail.com God Bless,
Alan Tyson
Physical Therapist, Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist