Doing Something Out of the Ordinary

Something Out of the Ordinary

Every time I go to a convention or sports festival, I come away with questions related to improvement. After attending the U18 festival, I have three questions. One, how much time is spent on the mind? How is this time reinforced? Two, why is there not more input fm all the expertise sitting in the rink; whether pro, college or junior? Three, why not invite the parents to all session that are personal growth in nature so they can reinforce what’s said?

Do something out of the ordinary @ any age and your life changes forever. Your life becomes more of a business than it was before this happens. This is a small part of how life works yet young people fail to recognize this as part of the growth process. Seasoned pros are subject to the same scrutiny after toiling as journeymen and then finally doing something out of the ordinary. People impressed by the moment want to see it again.

I’ve been witness to people doing something out of the ordinary many times over my career and I’ve always wondered why they had no idea how to repeat and no idea how important it is to duplicate. We have a responsibility to youth that goes far beyond youths’ responsibility to us. They are innocent, some with a lot of try, which turns out good on occasion. How do we get them to understand the importance of repetition and duplication? How do we get them to understand that once you show something special, people think less of you if you fail to do it again, and again, and again?

Once you show others your “WOW factor” you need to purge, sustain and build on that moment if you want to continue to be the “flavor” or the day. We say purge because you have to focus in on duplicating your effort over and over again; guard against sophistication and complacency setting in.

“We never arrive in life.” Very few athletes understand how this works. If they did, they would have no problem understanding the importance of consistency when it comes to the different levels of performance.

Consistency is an asset controlled by the mind. Mentors have the obligation to spend as much time on the mind as they do on technical and tactical levels. If all you have to offer is, “You need to be more involved, more physical, more energy, you are probably just a coach or something similar; someone with no value and just in charge of the group.”

“There is a huge difference between a coach and a mentor.”

Things don’t just happen in life. If you are fortunate to “WOW” someone, realize you will have to duplicate it if you want continued appreciation for what you do well.

“Doing something out of the ordinary is a defining moment in your life and the moment will either define you or you will define the moment.”

Next comes all the adulation that is a part of people doing well. Parents’ inability to deal with adulation reaches a point where it finally has a negative effect on the child/athlete. Parents need to guard against adulation as much as the athletes have to guard against sophistication and complacency when things go well.

“Adulation, sophistication and complacency kill careers.” Guard against any chance of this mindset surfacing.

Why is it athletes do better when they identify with adults? Answer is: Your life is a business. Business and personal relationships with those in charge are precious experiences that become of part of your routine the rest of your life. Adults are an important part of your life. Every child needs three (3) to six (6) mentors outside of their immediate family.

“Mentors are judged by their ability to instill boldness and courage in those they mentor. They focus on the mind more than the skills; with knowledge that mind skills are more important than feet and hand skills. The mind dictates the level of control you have over your opponent in life and the mind determines how well your feet and hand execute.”

Our good friend fm Denver, Sammy Granados, says, “You have what it takes to get here; do you have what it takes to build on that and stay?”

Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps