There’s plenty that isn’t fair in life. Where you’re born. Many good and bad things that happen to you. What talents you’re blessed with. But there is one thing that is fair for all of us—we have the same 24 hours in each day. The 1,440 minutes that I get are the same that we all get.

We get the same 1440 as everyone else, and that thought should empower us to do great things with our time. If you want to maximize your day, you must make choices believing in this mindset. Don’t mistake your 24 hours as any less or more than anyone else’s and try each day to make it your best. As you start the day, remind yourself that using your 1440 in a way that is valuable to you and those around you is paramount!

#getbetter

Basketball workouts, practices, skill sessions, etc should be planned to generate improvement. This is the process of getting better right? Ganon Baker (a global skills trainer) made a great point of what workouts should be when he said the 3 P’s: “passion, purpose, play”.

1- Passion: Do it with passion because you love it and you are excited to be on the court. Be passionate about getting better. Bring enthusiasm to your workouts to get the most out of yourself and others. Great energy will elevate what you are working on.
2- Purpose: What is your plan? What are you focused on getting better at? Write it down. Work on developing your skills “on purpose, with purpose” with specifics, measurement, and tracking on paper.
3- Play: We have to include play and competition in the process of getting better. Not only is this one of the best ways to learn and get better, but it is also the most fun part. Competing and playing is crucial for improving as a player, as well as a major source of enjoyment in the game.

Whether you are working out with your team, training by yourself, or a coach or player planning workouts to improve, use these 3 P’s to maximize your work.

#getbetter

There is a moment of big impact for athletes after the competition is over, and that is the conversation, feedback, and interaction with their parents. As serious as youth sports have become, we have to remember that it’s just a game, and it’s a game that should be used for development in a multitude of areas. First, I want to point out some truths, then I want to offer some advice.

Common Truths:
-Most athletes say the WORST part of the game was the car ride home with their parents when they discussed what went wrong.
-If they played bad, they are already frustrated and disappointed in themselves, and the last thing they want is to also think they let you down.
-The last thing most kids want to do on the ride home is rehash each moment of the game with you.
-Athletes don’t gain much, if anything, from hearing parents (or other adults) questioning their actions, the other players’ actions, or the coach’s decision making.
-Conversations driven by the parent about a game (or practice) make the child feel like their value is tied to their performance, or wins and losses.

How to do better:
-Most important thing to provide: the safety of your love, which is not tied to performance ever. Tell them “I love watching you play.”
-Let them drive any conversation about the game. If they don’t want to talk about it, don’t try to. Maybe they need a distraction or to forget about it and you can help provide this.
-If they do want to talk about it, use questions more than your opinions. Praise effort over result.
-Be a source of confidence and comfort when your athlete has been in a difficult situation (tough loss, played badly, didn’t play).
-Remember, it’s not just what you say, it’s also your emotions. Be mindful of how you are acting.

Your reaction after a game has an impact on your relationship with your child, and your child’s relationship with the sport. Be mindful of what they need, and make sure you keep the long game in perspective of why they play and their joy in the journey of the sport.

#getbetter