What it takes!

 

Successful tryout or not? School tryouts - Success or Failure? Share this with anyone who was successful or failed in their school tryouts! Every year in September, a group of athletes have tried out for their school team and have not made it.  This year is even worse as some of the athletes making this quest could not play last year as the sports were shut down here in Saskatoon.  During the pandemic, some athletes have spent a lot of time working on their own to further their volleyball skills, while others have not put in any time.  The ones who have worked on their fitness and skills stand out a lot from ones who have not.  The ones who put in the time are rewarded by making the team.  In other years the ones who worked hard outside of the school year are usually the ones that are awarded by making the school teams and club teams.  The few spots on school teams have been more competitive as the number of athletes flocking to volleyball increases.  To the athletes who did not make the team, you need to ask yourself a few questions. Did you do for fitness and skill development during the pandemic? Do you play beach volleyball in the summer? Do you play club volleyball in the winter? Do you believe you can make the team by only working on volleyball skills while in front of a coach? Is the decision to play volleyball yours, friends, family or others? Do you understand that it is not how many times you fail but how you react to failure? When I coached and selected players for a team, I looked for athletes who: are physically able to handle the challenges of playing volleyball have done enough activity in their past to possess eye-hand coordination, agility and strength. Coachable Make eye contact when being given instruction Understand it is a sport and meant to be fun Confident but not arrogant Make others around them better Understand team Leadership Not entitled Mentally tough Positive attitude Not a complainer Grateful Honest Puts others first  Humble Compassionate Vocal Smiles most of the time Not a quitter Sense of humour Let others tell them how great they are. No excuses Strive to be better each day Willing to earn playing time and do not expect it Ready to make sacrifices to be on a team No players will have all of these characteristics, but they are a shopping list on how to succeed.   Dr. Darren Cannell Check out the Memes below to further clarify what it means to be elite!   Elite Athlete Memes