I Will Become A Winner

DESIRE:

Desire can be developed.   It is the most important qualification for being a champion in any sport.   Desire is where motivation begins.   It is the point at which you quit wishing (dreams) for something and begin to want (desire) and move toward attaining (motivation) it.   Desire is very powerful.   If you act on your desire a pattern develops that will lead you to be successful.

 The following steps will lead you in the development of desire.

          1.                   Anticipate what becoming a champion will mean to you.

2.                   Learn everything you can about your sport.

3.                   Watch the sport at every opportunity.

4.                   Identify with a team or a player.

5.                   You must constantly remind yourself of your dreams.

 Four Principles of Desire

          1.                   Desire gains strength when it has a concrete form (goals)

2.                   Desire becomes an obsession (motivation)

3.                   Desire becomes a commitment (persistence)

Three stages of commitment:

a.        Lying stage: You aren’t sure you can do it.

b.        Quitting stage: I’ve tried - no fun - too much work – etc.

  When you want to quit:

  1.        Give it three more weeks.

  2.        Devise a system of reward and punishment.

  3.        Give your efforts time to compound.

c.        “Do it” stage:   Made it through the first two stages, now the commitment is final – I’ll do it.

4.                   Desire becomes endurance (positive energy)

GOALS:

 Goals are important for the following reasons:

1.                   They help improve performance.

2.                   They maintain motivation.

3.                   They change the way you interpret success and failure.

 To be a success you must work toward worthwhile goals.   You must value these goals.   There must be a way to measure progress towards an attainable goal.   The goal must cause you to give of yourself.   The goal must be written down.   In summary, a goal must be:

1.                   Worthwhile

2.                   Valuable to you

3.                   Measurable

4.                   Attainable

5.                   Written down

To further understand goals, keep in mind the following steps:

1.                   Each goal must be specific.

2.                   You must have a specific time in which to achieve your goal.

3.                   You must develop a plan to achieve your goal.

4.                   You must decide the price you are willing to pay. (Desire)

5.                   You must think about reaching your goal every day. (Commitment)

Types of goals :

There are three basic types of goals.   These goals are short range, intermediate, and long range.   These three types of goals are placed into two major categories.   These categories are OUTCOME GOALS and PERFORMANCE GOALS.

Categories :

Outcome goals- uncontrollable by you (controlled by coach, official, other team etc.)

-           Inflexible (you can not make adjustments)

-           Success/failure oriented

-           Team oriented

  Performance goals – you control

-           Flexible (you can adjust along the way)

-           Individually oriented

SHORT RANGE GOALS:

These are goals you want to accomplish today, in less than one year or season.   They give you three important pieces of information.

1.                   What I have accomplished today in terms of what goals I set for today.

2.                   How these short-range goals related to my intermediate and long range goals.

3.                   Short range goals help develop discipline as you must set daily goals.

INTERMEDIATE GOALS:

These goals might reflect what you care to accomplish in one to three years, one semester of school, preseason to a sport or one third of a season.   They serve as a check and balance for your long-range goals.   They tell you:

1.                   How your short-range goals tie in with your over all program.

2.                   Serve as an indicator for your success or lack of success.   Which means your goals might have to be adjusted.

3.                   Gives you a clearer picture of the big picture. (Long-range goals)

4.                   Gives you confidence, as you feel more successful with each completed goal.

LONG-RANGE GOALS:

Long-range goals are set for two to four years down the road.   As you get older they may even be set for much longer lengths of time.   They may be set for athletic achievements, career, and family.   Long-range goals will help:

1.                   To establish a high standard for yourself

2.                   Turn your dreams into reality

3.                   Help you develop organizational skills which you will need in college and your career.

SETTING GOALS:

              1.    Make sure your goals are:

                    a.        Performance oriented

b.        Stated in a positive and specific manner

c.        Attainable

d.        Prioritize your goals