JASON HENNINGTON Special to the Press
Anew season of high school sports, which happens to be one of my favorites, is upon us — winter sports.
Sports have transitioned, and athletes are either going into the offseason or working to get in shape for the next sport. Yes, football and volleyball shape are different from basketball shape. While getting in shape physically is important, getting in shape mentally is also necessary. Part of that is looking at the season as a new beginning.
It’s the beginning of a new sport, a new season and new competition. Previously (back in my day), you played the same teams in every sport throughout the year, which created rivalries. Knowing you have to face the same team you beat in football to get into the playoffs or the team that beat you by a field goal to take district is a part of mental preparation. It can push athletes to work harder and focus on a particular goal.
As new coaches take the helm around the coverage area, it creates new beginnings for the players. Coaches may have a new system or different styles of play that athletes must learn. On “Around the Watercooler,” we often say players need to “buy-in” for the team to have an opportunity to be successful.
Many of the polished teams from last year will have new, younger faces, which creates a new beginning for players, coaches and opponents. Once the veteran leaders on the team buy-in, the younger athletes will follow suit. If not, they will be weeded out.
A phrase I have heard way too often is “trust the process.” It basically means trust in the system because it will work out for the best in the long-term. When stated correctly, it makes sense, however, many people say it to buy themselves more time to complete a goal.
In order to trust the process, you have to understand the process. Once athletes understand what the process is, buy-in to the system and put in the effort, everyone can trust that the process is going to work.
But it doesn’t happen overnight. I was told personally by a coach that the system is in place, and it is going to take time for it to work. Sometimes you take hard losses experience and better. But once you start learning from those losses, you don’t make the same mistakes, and you start to see more wins.
That is trusting the process.
The new season will bring new beginnings, new challenges, new experiences, it will also bring heroes, new confidence and new camaraderie.
Trust the process, only the beginning new beginning.
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