'Taking Play Seriously'

Today I posted an article on the importance of play in workouts. Check it out at http://www.athletebydesign.blogspot.com/.

Sports Profile Update

I am EXTREMELY excited to announce that the official release of the Sports Profile is finally just right around the corner. The feedback from coaches, parents, athletes, and general managers of youth sports all the way to international professional clubs has been tremendous.

Below are a few update highlights for this completely new method of psychological profiling of athletes:

• over 350 athletes have now taken the profile from ages ranging twelve and up through professional athletes
• two different versions will be available
• another 400 athletes will take the profile within the next four weeks
• the profile will be available in four different languages
• preliminary stats are close to completion regarding the first profile group
• the initial data is presenting some patterns of decision making of youth that will have a critical impact on developmental programs
• more to come soon!
  

Real Life Example of Intrinsic Value

Yesterday I posted on 'Understanding Intrinsic Value'. Today I came across this video that portrays exactly what instrinsic value is all about!

This young many truly inspires all of us to go after our dreams no matter what obstacles stand in our way!

Understanding Intrinsic Value

How do you feel?

Think of just about any post championship game that you have watched on television and what is the first question that the commentator asked? Most often the question is:

How does it feel right now to be the champion?

Intrinsic value is all about 'feeling'. Have you ever had a gut feeling about a teammate where you said to yourself 'John is really struggling right now, maybe I can help'? If so, that is the ability to be highly empathetic (understanding and sensitive to others).

In the picture above, these NFL Green Bay Packer's Fans intrinsically value their team. They love their team for who they are...win or lose. More on intrinsic value below:

• is about the 'wholeness' of something or someone
• focuses on who a person is not what they do
• answers the question 'Who do you want to be?'
• involves the ability to understand others (coaches, teammates, etc)
• includes words that create feelings or emotions (both positive and negative)
• includes phrases such as 'Spirit of the game' or 'Heart of a champion' or 'Love for the game'.

Intrinsic value questions relating to one's world view (empathy) include:

• How important are my teammates and coaches to me?
• How well do I get along with my teammates and coaches?
• How well can I handle mistakes made when I rely on my teammates?
• What are my realistic expectations of my teammates and my coaches?

Intrinsic value questions relating to one's self view (self-esteem) include:

• How well do I understand the value that I bring to my sport as a person?
• Do I have an inner desire for self-development?
• What is my attitude about my personal problems?

Understanding Extrinsic Value

Last week I wrote a short article on "Understanding Systemic Value", which is basically the foundation of human value. This week let's take a step up the heirarchy and explore the extrinsic value dimension.

How Do You Compare?

Extrinsic value is all about comparison and getting results. In the picture above, the player with the ball has to clearly and quickly compare a number of different options of what to do in his situation. For example, does he just try and hold the ball until he can get support? Or does he try and cut the ball back between the two defenders? Or does he simply just try and clear the ball as quickly as possible?

So in this situation it is about which choice does he make in order to get the best result. Below are a few more points of intersest regarding extrinsic value:

• this is the dimension of comparison to get desired results


• extrinsic value answers the questions 'How do I...' and 'What is the best way to...'


• it is about determining what is relevant within a complex situation


• seeing the benefit of one's actions


• includes words such as choices, best option, process, integration (how people work together)


• Internally it is about role awareness. In other words, what are the roles that you think you need to play in order to get results or accomplish your goals


• it involves one's attitudes towards team success as well as team failure


• Internally it involves one's attitude toward their own peak performance and their own poor performance

Below is a sample chart comparing one's strengths and weakness in the extrinsic value:

Are You Breaking Down or Building Up Your Teammates?

If you consider yourself to be highly competitive, it is important to take a step back every so often and ask yourself if you are breaking down or building up your teammates. Which scenario below resonates best with you?

Scenario #1

There are ten minutes left in the game and your team is in a must win situation. A few of your teammates are not stepping up to the challenge and are making some mistakes due to fatigue and pressure. You quickly run over and communicate with your teammate in the following way:

• focus on the problem not the actual person when discussing their mistake


• let them know that you need their best effort, not their perfect effort


• be specific


• praise your teammate before you expose the issue


• end the quick conversation with a positive not a negative comment

Scenario #2

The same as scenario #1 and you communicate with your teammate in the following way:

• magnify their mistakes as worse then it really may be


• focus on the negative


• verbally attack your teammate and not their action


• value your teammate only to the level at which they can or cannot play the game


• be general (i.e. You always... or You never...)

Will You Go the Extra Mile?

If scenario #1 sounds most like you, then you most likely highly value interpersonal harmony. This answers the question what are your realistic expectations of your coaches and teammates?

Athlete's with this strength are usually considered a team player, concerned for others, strong communicator, and enjoy interacting with their teammates.

How Realistic Are You?

If scenario #2 sounds most like you, then you most likely give much attention to interpersonal conflict. This answers the question how well can you handle mistakes made when relying on your teammates?

Athlete's who have a high positive attitude score here generally tend to magnify the mistakes and faults of others, even to the point where a loss is instantly blamed on someone else. Has this ever happened to you?

The Choice Is Yours

These are just two attributes that help to define an individual's decision making pattern. No matter which scenario sounded most like you, the goal is to first identify your present mindset. Then find out if that decision making pattern is working for you or not.

Take a few minutes and ask yourself the following questions:

• What is it costing you by having a 'break down my teammate' mindset?
• Is this mindset more for your benefit or your teammates?
• What can you accomplish with a 'build up your teammate' mindset?
• How would things be different for you on the field or court of play? Write down an specific example from a recent game that you participated in.
• Would you feel different? If so, what types of feelings would you now experience?
• Can your teammates benefit from you feeling this way?
• If so how?

Communication without Words

When it comes to communication we often think of what other's are saying or how we are listening. However, communication doesn't always come in verbal form. In fact, communication without words is sometimes the strongest way to get a point across to others.

Feel Your Way Through The Game
You see, communicating without words is all about communicating intrinsically. Athletes often rely and trust most their intrinsic thinking when it comes to dealing with pressure. In other words, they will feel their way through the game.

Coaches often gauge player improvement by what they see with their own eyes during the game and not by timed sprints or a win/loss record.

From Good to Great
It is this type of communication that allows a good player/coach to become a great player/coach. Getting beyond focusing on the X's and O's can help raise your ability to achievement!

Quote of the Day

"Talent wins games, but teammwork and intelligence wins championships."- Michael Jordan

Do Your Athlete's Value TEAMWORK?

"Individuals play the game, but teams win championships."

This is the sign that is in the New England Patriots team locker room. This says it all! It's a life rule, no one achieves any level of success completely on their own. Do you have any athlete's on your team that have incredible individual talent but struggle to be a team player? If so, below are some examples of attributes that will give insight into a player's attitude towards the value of a team:

• Interpersonal rapport- How well does the athlete get along with their coach/teammates?
• Interpersonal harmony- What are the athlete's realistic expectations of their coach/teammates?
• Interpersonal conflict- How well can the athlete handle mistakes made when relying on their teammates?
• Team orientation- What is the athlete's level of understanding and involvement with teammates and their sport?
• Attitude towards team success- How well does the athlete thrive in a team setting?
• Attitude towards team failure- What is the athlete's response when the game does not go as planned?

*Note: These are just a few of the thirty nine attributes objectively measured in the InnerTactics Sports Profile.

What have you been able to achieve just by being part of a team that you could not have on your own?

Athletic Talent

The world of sports is obsessed with talent. In fact, it is most evident in youth sports! How many times have you heard a dad or mom say 'my child has talent and could even be the next future star'?

But just what does talent mean? Take a few minutes to work through the following exercises to help you build clarity around what talent means to you.

• How do you define talent?


• What about having talent is important to you?


• Think of the most successful athlete that you have worked with. How did talent affect their success? Where there any other attributes that also contributed to their success?


• Now think of an athlete that you know who has tremendous talent but has yet to be successful? Name three key qualities that prevented this person from achieving their best?

When it comes to talent, there are three main areas to focus on:

1. Identify talent


2. Recruit talent


3. Develop talent
   

Just about everyone accomplishes the first two but stops there. It is number three that truly defines the good coaches from the great coaches.

After having answered the questions above, ask yourself what steps are you taking to develop your talented athletes both physically and mentally?