Freo2012
Premiership Player
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2010
- Posts
- 4,675
- Reaction score
- 2,119
- Location
- Perth
- AFL Club
- Fremantle
- Other Teams
- South Fremantle
We are all footy fanatics – we love footy and want out team to succeed. If serious about success you want it to be sustained and above average success, not a single “jagged” flag once in a “blue-moon”. So given all the constraints of modern “equalised” footy what makes a true champion, and not just a player that bob’s up now and then pretending to be a champion? Its the same fundamental things that makes a Champion in anything - ATTITUDE.
100% effort in everything that is done in the time available/allotted to do so. Whether its tying shoelaces, making coffee, preparing for an exam, running a 100m race – do it properly with focus on doing it right. Once past that time can never be regained – you only get one shot at doing anything. There is no practice for next time, the time is now. As a result with this attitude next time you do the same thing your muscle memory and subconcious will be in tune to doing it right and “winning” is trained into you as a “natural state”. That is the difference between “winners” and “losers”. Losers accept mediocrity, or allow themselves to put in half efforts in the belief that this time it didn’t really count so no need to put full effort in. This is where the term “unacceptable performance” comes from – winners are never accepting of anything that is not 100% effort.
I have a friend in his 40’s that kicks grass burner passes 40m off both feet and hits you on the chest every single time. He loves just kicking a footy with his kids and friends. He never played footy beyond school and is very very successful in most aspects of his life. He once told me he treats everything he does as a test, a learning process. He gets enjoyment from getting the most out of himself. As for his kicking, he treats each kick as though it was the most important kick he ever made and thus his muscle memory and subconscious always delivers the result required.
So what are the traits of champions?
1. Never accept lack of endeavour, NEVER EVER. Lack of endeavour is a trait that will NEVER be found in a champion.
2. Learn from a mistake. Find out the reason for the mistake and never make the same mistake again.
3. Skills and knowledge can ALWAYS be improved – it is the drive to continually improve that results in a Champion, not a natural talent gift. Though natural talent and that drive and tenacity will most likely result in a Champion. ATTITUDE is the MOST important aspect of a champion.
4. 7P’s – Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance – this is a fundamental aspect to everything in life.
5. Make sure you are at your best when competing – champion athletes tailor their fitness (planned peaks and recovery) and psyche to be their best for the most important events, and avoid/not compete when they are not at their best and recovering - physically and mentally. In teams this means NEVER play a team member that is not fully motivated and prepared. If you have no choice but to play a player not fully prepared and that choice is between a player less physically prepared and another less mentally motivated, you ALWAYS take the player that is more mentally motivated – the effect on the team psyche for the long term as a whole is always more beneficial than with the player without the endeavour. You want a Champion team, not a team of talented individuals – the goal is always the main focus, not the individual show.
With the very real lack of success and sub-par performance of EVERYTHING Freo since its inception I thought it worthwhile making this little post to remind us all of what we probably know but too often forget/ignore. Substantial changes have been made at Freo in recent years and we are on a positive road, but to be accepting of anything less than total application and endeavour WILL result in a return to the Freo of old. NEVER be accepting of sub-standard performances.
Personally I think the deadwood cleanout we have had did not go far enough and there are atleast a couple of players who are passenger’s, wanting to go on the ride but not fully committed to contribute what is required to go on the champion journey that we all want for Freo. The same standards also need to be applied to everyone in the organisation, from boot strappers, cleaners to coaches – mediocrity due to lack of endeavour should never be acceptable.
100% effort in everything that is done in the time available/allotted to do so. Whether its tying shoelaces, making coffee, preparing for an exam, running a 100m race – do it properly with focus on doing it right. Once past that time can never be regained – you only get one shot at doing anything. There is no practice for next time, the time is now. As a result with this attitude next time you do the same thing your muscle memory and subconcious will be in tune to doing it right and “winning” is trained into you as a “natural state”. That is the difference between “winners” and “losers”. Losers accept mediocrity, or allow themselves to put in half efforts in the belief that this time it didn’t really count so no need to put full effort in. This is where the term “unacceptable performance” comes from – winners are never accepting of anything that is not 100% effort.
I have a friend in his 40’s that kicks grass burner passes 40m off both feet and hits you on the chest every single time. He loves just kicking a footy with his kids and friends. He never played footy beyond school and is very very successful in most aspects of his life. He once told me he treats everything he does as a test, a learning process. He gets enjoyment from getting the most out of himself. As for his kicking, he treats each kick as though it was the most important kick he ever made and thus his muscle memory and subconscious always delivers the result required.
So what are the traits of champions?
1. Never accept lack of endeavour, NEVER EVER. Lack of endeavour is a trait that will NEVER be found in a champion.
2. Learn from a mistake. Find out the reason for the mistake and never make the same mistake again.
3. Skills and knowledge can ALWAYS be improved – it is the drive to continually improve that results in a Champion, not a natural talent gift. Though natural talent and that drive and tenacity will most likely result in a Champion. ATTITUDE is the MOST important aspect of a champion.
4. 7P’s – Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance – this is a fundamental aspect to everything in life.
5. Make sure you are at your best when competing – champion athletes tailor their fitness (planned peaks and recovery) and psyche to be their best for the most important events, and avoid/not compete when they are not at their best and recovering - physically and mentally. In teams this means NEVER play a team member that is not fully motivated and prepared. If you have no choice but to play a player not fully prepared and that choice is between a player less physically prepared and another less mentally motivated, you ALWAYS take the player that is more mentally motivated – the effect on the team psyche for the long term as a whole is always more beneficial than with the player without the endeavour. You want a Champion team, not a team of talented individuals – the goal is always the main focus, not the individual show.
With the very real lack of success and sub-par performance of EVERYTHING Freo since its inception I thought it worthwhile making this little post to remind us all of what we probably know but too often forget/ignore. Substantial changes have been made at Freo in recent years and we are on a positive road, but to be accepting of anything less than total application and endeavour WILL result in a return to the Freo of old. NEVER be accepting of sub-standard performances.
Personally I think the deadwood cleanout we have had did not go far enough and there are atleast a couple of players who are passenger’s, wanting to go on the ride but not fully committed to contribute what is required to go on the champion journey that we all want for Freo. The same standards also need to be applied to everyone in the organisation, from boot strappers, cleaners to coaches – mediocrity due to lack of endeavour should never be acceptable.
up to a champion post..
