Activities For Champions - Read Before Game Tomorrow

We looked very tired today at practice. I spoke with the other coaches and asked if we were training too hard and we don't believe that we are. We haven't had the 2+ hour practices, Indian sprints, or extended conditioning. We have worked hard and smart this year.

Tired players are risky players - risk injury, risk mental breakdowns, risk poor technical abilities and the list goes on.

I believe an amendment to the team rules will give us the mental and physical energy edge we are looking for. I am amending the rules to the team with the following adjustments:

1.      No candy, pop, sweets, junk food (high-salt chips and snacks), sugar cereal or anything high in salt or processed sugar.

2.      No greasy fast food on game day and bring a half-time snack such as banana and peanut butter, 100% juice, Gatorade, fig newtons or peanut rolls/paydays

3.      Consciously eat healthy every day – fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, etc.

4.      Cell phones and all electronics OFF, not on vibrate, sleep, etc., after 9:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.

5.      In bed by 10:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.

6.      20 minute design your own session – foot skills, shooting, formation study, fitness, etc. – outside of practice, every day but Sunday

7.      Send a thank-you text, email, note every day for the gifts someone gives you (remember the half-time speech), can’t be the same person every day - "You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." John Wooden

Each week we will have an additional character-building activity and this week it will be the following:

Twenty positives to one negative – before you can say anything negative to yourself or others you need to say twenty positive things.

I will expect a text every Wednesday before practice to report the following:

1.      Did you follow all team rules this week?

2.      What was your personal training routine?

3.      Did you miss any classes?

4.      Who was one person you thanked this week and why?

5.      Did you accomplish the weekly challenge?

If I do not hear from you on Wednesday you will miss half of Friday’s game.

If I do hear from everybody and everybody has followed the rules, Thursday’s practice will be a guided pick your practice session.

Also, if we get a shutout or win by 3 goals, we will have either a pizza party or you can eat your favorite sweet/snack that weekend.

I believe these activities will increase our energy levels, character, muscle and team unity. I also believe you will be amazed with the results.

Text “positive” to me before tomorrow’s game.