5 Ways To Become a Great Athlete

Becoming a great athlete takes more than natural talent and athleticism. Although they are both important, they are usually out of your control. What you can control and what will make you successful, however, is how you use those gifts. Here are five tips on how to build on your natural skills to take you from good to great.

1. Set and Reach Personal Goals

Your coaches will set goals for your team, but they might not set them for you individually. If they don’t, then you need to go to them to ask what goals they have for you, as well as setting some for yourself. Then you have to figure out a way to reach those goals. Give yourself a time frame for reaching them, and then make a plan and stick to it. Be willing to put in the extra time before and after practice, push yourself to go harder and faster during practice and workouts, and have the grit and determination to keep pushing forward even when it gets difficult.

2. Invest Your Spending Money

While having fancy equipment won’t necessarily make you a great athlete, it can be difficult to be one without it sometimes. This could mean using your spending money to upgrade your basketball shoes, tennis racket, or even your socks and undergarments. Custom equipment might be a good investment for you as well. This doesn’t have to be difficult, as Rawlings custom gloves will guide you through the process of selecting the right baseball glove for you, for example. Getting customized gear can also give you the mental boost you need to be excited about your sport again.

3. Be Disciplined Outside of Practice

Being a successful athlete takes more than practicing and working out. It takes dedication in every area of your life. You need to have the right sleeping and eating habits in place in order to set yourself up for success, which means you might need to say no to some activities. Make sure you’re also staying disciplined with other factors such as schoolwork and relationships with friends and family. Take time to rest and recharge so that you don’t burn out your body or your love for your sport. Find other activities that you enjoy and do them with your friends and family. Go for a hike, ride your bike, or just relax and play some video games. This can give your mind and body a break, helping you perform even better when you return to your sport.

4. Work To Be a Good Teammate

You won’t be successful in anything if you can’t get along with your team. Take the focus off of yourself and look for ways that you can support your teammates. Maybe even ask them how you can serve them better, and then work to do that. Make bonding with your team a priority, especially with people you don’t always like or agree with. Even if you don’t become close friends, you still need to be able to get along.

5. Be Coachable

Listen to your coaches. You won’t get far if you ignore or flaunt what your leaders are telling you to do. If you do disagree with them, go to them by yourself to talk respectfully about it. If they aren’t pushing you, ask them to give you areas where you can improve and for specific advice on how to do that. During your off-season, find someone to work with you on your weak areas. Listen to your teammates as well. They might see a blind spot that could make all the difference for you.

There are many factors that play into becoming a successful athlete, and some of them you can control and some you can’t. Even if you do have the natural talent and a dream team, your grit, determination and discipline will be the difference between good and great.