The Day Will Come

If a person looks back on their lives and thinks about some of those great moments I’m sure they can think of a defining point where they can say, “That’s when I got it.” In other words, whatever point someone had been trying to get across the individual finally learned.

Maybe it was in school, and nothing seemed to be clicking. Then all of a sudden the brain clears out some of the other items and it all makes sense. Maybe it is a relationship with someone when it all makes perfect sense that this person cares about you more than you could ever imagine and all is right with the world.

When that happens it is often difficult to get that smile to subside.

In sports there can be a real fear that takes place and it can override one’s ability because having the right focus can make a human weak. I finally got it and I can remember when it became clear to me.

It was on the football field as a freshman. I spent enough time getting pushed around by enough varsity players and when I pushed back and made a few tackles it felt good.

I also gained a lot of respect from the older guys, which certainly didn’t hurt. Football really became fun for me at that time.

I’ve coached enough kids to know that fear factor limits an athletic kid to not want to give it their all. There is a belief that if they hold up instead of going full tilt it won’t hurt as much.

Well, that is completely wrong. The hitter is in a better place than the one getting hit. The sooner the athletes figure that out the better.

Another one of those important things that kids need to figure out is that if they miss out on a year they miss out on time that can never be learned on the go. They are behind.

You can tell a youngster that missing a season will be detrimental but they usually won’t figure that out until it is too late.

I would much rather see a kid turn out and not play but learn in practice each day because the experience gained by playing against good competition will benefit them for years to come. The kids have to know where they stand and getting toughened up isn’t a bad thing.

I remember a kid that played junior varsity basketball his junior year. He scored a total of five points that season for the varsity.

The next year the kid grew three inches taller and got rid of his baby fat and became that team’s leading scorer his senior year.

Sports can be a great confidence builder as long as the individual makes those strides to improve their lives and their game. But they have to get it and that day will come as long as they are serious enough to get it.

Once they get it they can finally appreciate what it takes to be the best they can be!