I made the team but don't play in games what gives?

I have been approached by a couple of different parents who would like me to speak to the athletes who make the team but do not get played in games.  This is a complex situation as I have to consider a couple of different people.  The first one is what was explained to the athlete when they make the team.  Making the cuts and being selected to represent a school or club means you have displayed a set of skills or potential to make it worth a coaches time to help you develop your game.  It does not mean you have displayed the skill necessary to be on the court during games.  A coach should explain what skills an athlete needs to develop or perfect to allow them to contribute to a successful team.  Successful teams are made up of various skills; no one athletes have all the necessary skills, but some have more than others.  One of the most valuable athletes that I have ever coached was an athlete who, in four years of playing on my team never started a game or played even large portions of important games.  However, she helped us win more games in critical situations because of her ability to block and serve.  I would put her in when games were tight, and I needed to break a streak of great hits, which she would end with an ideal block and then would go back and have a killer serve, which would change the momentum in many a game, a fantastic tool for any coach to have on the team.  She worked hard on her blocking and serves to the point where no other player on the team was better at those skills.  A single season is short and is not the measure of a successful career. It took me three years to make the starting lineup on the university team, it took a lot of work and training to achieve that and was one of those things that I earned, which gave it value.  If I had been given the opportunity without the effort and work, it would not have been something that would have made me proud.

To summarize, a player who makes the team has been allowed to practice and become better he or she has shown the potential that at some time they could offer something which will make the team successful.  The athlete has to decide what to do with this gift and opportunity.  The lack of playing time is because a coach does not feel the athlete has anything that fits into a successful team's puzzle.  A good coach will explain that, but part of it might just be how an athlete reacts to not playing, and if he/she is still working hard and helping make the team better, the athlete is displaying the right stuff.  Any athlete who takes the practice opportunity and strives to make themselves better by putting in the effort, sweat and tears and figures out what the team needs and how they can contribute will almost always get themselves onto a starting lineup or onto the court during the game maybe not fast enough for the athlete's parents or the athlete themselves but practice does make perfect.  If you are not practicing harder and more often than others, what right do you have to demand or expect to play? 

The biggest problem with many athletes today is that they feel that making the team automatically means they will get a chance to play.  The biggest lesson to be learned is earning it, quit thinking you are entitled to game time simply because you made the team and showed up to practice.  Practices are where you earn the right to play in games, not tryouts.  Figure out what skill you can do so a coach can use you to win games.  Serving is the easiest but works at it in piles of time outside practice.  Then when the opportunity presents itself, and you enter into a game you have earned, and you will be ready.

Major Announcement Elite Academy Soccer

Making the Cut Soccer

August 24-27 2020...so you know someone who might be interested we will be launching it soon.

Stay tuned.

Making the Cut Camp 2020

Making the Cut Camp

I have already added the Making the Cut Camp to the calendar as it was oversold and a little bit of a mess for scheduling.  The players who will be trying out for the Senior High School teams will have camp from August 24-27 and the athletes trying out for the Elementary and Junior High School will have camp from August 17-20 2020. It is a long ways away but registers early and save 25 dollars on the registration.

Making the Cut Camps

A Good Problem to Have

They always say this is a good problem to have but I hate turning people away. The quality of our sessions drop when they get too full and our first session is already at the full mark of 10 athletes.  I will allow two more but after that, the session will be considered to be full.  We have 335 active members on the mailing list at the academy and we want to keep the ratio of 10 athletes to 1 coach to maintain the instruction level high.  The unfortunate aspect of this is sold out sessions.  If you know your schedule you might want to register now for the sessions that interest you.

Seven Habits of Grateful athletes

I found this on the bulletin board at my son's school and I liked it so I thought I would share.

It can be hard to practice gratitude in the midst of the daily grind of our sport. Our ability to be grateful often ebbs and flows with the circumstances in front of us.  Gratitude is like a muscle—it gets stronger if we consistently give it attention and push it beyond its level of comfort. Conversely, if we fail to exercise it consistently, our ability to be thankful atrophies.

Here are seven habits of thankful athletes, mental choices that athletes can incorporate into their daily lives to grow and maintain their gratitude "muscles."

Grateful athletes take time to soak at the moment

Before a practice or competition, they stop, take a deep breath, and make it a point to appreciate what they are about to engage in. Who else on this earth gets to play a game they love in front of fans who cheer them on in the process?  Is there pressure involved in that? Sure. But grateful athletes make it a habit to pause and enjoy, if only for a moment, the unique opportunity they get to experience.

Grateful athletes fight against entitlement

They recognize every blessing they receive as a gift they are not entitled to. Entitlement stands in direct opposition to gratitude. Per diem money on a road trip. New shoes. New gear. Laundry is done on their behalf. Water or Gatorade received from a trainer. Tutors helping them pass their classes. Teachers giving them grace because of their travel schedule. Grateful athletes fight against the "I deserve" mentality that is so pervasive in our culture by thanking the giver of these gifts and frequently checking the posture of their heart.

Grateful athletes are coachable

They listen to the advice and instruction from their coaches and, when appropriate, from their fellow teammates. They realize they do not have all of the answers. Even if they disagree with input that is given, it will not keep them from at least testing it out on the field. Grateful athletes have an appreciation of the authority they currently sit under and a desire to soak up any knowledge given to them.

Grateful athletes recognize people who go unnoticed

They shake the hand the of maintenance worker who helps cut the grassy field that they are about to tear up with their cleats or the janitor who mops the floor so their feet won't slide on the dust. They write their athletic trainer a thank you note for taping them up, helping them rehab, or stretching them out before practice. They give a hug to the die-hard fan that is at every game and cheers

for his/her team regardless of the outcome.

Grateful athletes look for silver linings

They understand that life is not always going to be rainbows and butterflies. There will be hardships in the form of injuries, losses, poor performance, and team conflict. Grateful athletes do not pretend this circumstance does not exist or pretend they are not affected by them. They do, however, constantly ask themselves "What good can come of this or has already come of this?" in the midst of the struggle. In difficult times, gratitude can be tough to grab onto. Grateful athletes make an effort to step back, look at the bigger picture, and cling to any silver lining they find.

Grateful athlete's joy is not conditional

They do not need a win or an epic personal best to be thankful. Gratitude for a grateful athlete is not birthed from good results, nor is it circumstantial. They understand that lasting joy cannot be found in a game that delivers both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. How do they set themselves on a trajectory of consistent gratitude? They put their hope in the one who does not change. God. They are actively involved in a community of like-minded people to sharpen one another.

Grateful athletes recognize excellence in their opponent

They have an appreciation for their competitors. Have you ever noticed that rivals tend to bring their best to the table when they play? Grateful athletes practice gratitude towards a rival on two levels. One, they are thankful that their rival will ultimately bring out the best in their own performance. Two, because their joy is not dependent on winning, they are able to appreciate and look forward to the competition itself. Grateful athletes have a unique ability to want to beat their opponent while at the same time appreciating the intensity that is about to ensue.

Ottawa trip

Ottawa trip

If you are interested register soon as the 15 spots will fill fast.  It will be three-four days of our Men's National team playing against some of the best teams in the world, two months before they compete in the Olympics.  It will be an epic trip.

Register your intent to participate.

CEA Blog

CEA Blog The Canadian Elite Academy Blog is the place where we talk about future plans of the academy and the research we use to move things forward.  Check it out we have the reflections of the Making the Cut Camp Posted. CEA Blog