What Does It Take to Reach the Next Level

One of the reasons I began coaching in 1996 is that I had a youth soccer experience that had the potential to be more. But I felt as if I was blocked by others who were more resourced. So I began coaching to provide kids with the most resources possible outside of themselves to help them get to their next level.

What I have learned over the past few years is that some kids have an X-factor that takes them past their competition. Some of these kids with the X-factor fail to connect with their potential though because it came too easy. Some kids don’t necessarily have the X-factor, but they have some other resources that help them excel. These resources are the topics that I want to provide you with so that you can cultivate these traits in yourself or your athlete.

Will

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. That’s what they say, right? It’s pretty true. Will is defined as “the faculty by which a person decides on and initiates action.” Deciding is definitely a huge part of will. Deciding what’s important or valuable to someone is always a monster step. And if there are a couple options available, some times we freeze. Deciding will take us away from viable options and towards only one option. Some times we want to be able to keep all options available.

Unfortunately that is a decision that keeps us from initiating action, which is the second part of Will. For kids to have the options they do these days, Will is an even more powerful resource. And for your athlete in their environment, it could be the difference that separates them from those around them, which could help them reach their next level.

Energy

Have you seen a player who exerts themself to the fullest to the point of being smoked in the span of the first few minutes of a game or practice? Have you seen a player who is standing around and looking lost, no exertion? Of course those are the extremes. Where do you fall in line? If 10 is top level energy flow and 1 is low level energy, where are you? Obviously, there is a bit of management that comes with energy. You don’t want to exert all of it and it’s gone. So how can a player show the appropriate amount of energy that impacts a training session or a game? There are a lot of components that go into energy production and exertion. Things like, nutrition, hydration, rest, sleep, recovery, and maybe most importantly, feedback.

Feedback is a vital component to an athlete’s energy. The more an athlete knows they are on the correct route for the journey they have decided to go on, the more energy they are able to apply to that journey. The more extrinsic positive feedback an athlete gets, the potentially more intrinsic energy and exertion is available to be released. So you can help your athlete have more energy with your positive feedback! Try it! And see where their energy levels go.

Please remember, comments before an action happen are never feedback. Feedback is after an event or decision is made and then performed. Can you provide them with positive feedback after their action? That’s the challenge. But that’s where the positive energy can come. And how soon can the feedback be given after the event or decision was made and performed?

Creativity

One of the more difficult components of today’s athletes is incorporating creativity into their training sessions and even more into their games. Sessions can be rote and games can be predictable. What can separate those players that make it to the next level and those that stay at their same level is their creativity in solving problems. This could come through the way a player dribbles at defenders, or makes passes through lines of pressure, or discovers chances on goal.

There are many creative ways to make your mark on the field. It is up to each player to discover their own creativity and magnify it for those in observance. But most importantly, this creativity should be expressed from the player so that the player feels they are giving their full selves on the field. Not just creativity for creativity’s sake.

Courage

As players grow older and get faster and stronger, courage begins to play more of a part to separate the top players from the others. The players that are pushing the next level are always displaying their courage through 50-50 balls, hard tackles, dribbling at defenders at taking shots with confidence. Like Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

It’s always a good idea to express your courage. And if you have little courage, but you want the courage of a lion, you have to start somewhere! Can you run just a bit harder? Can you step in for that 50-50 ball and use your body? Can you take one shot a game? Can you communicate to that player and help him or her know more about what your thoughts are during the game or training session? Can you approach your coach and ask him or her what you can improve on? Courage opens up doors.

Faith

As I have mentioned before, faith can be seen in a few different ways. Our culture can look at faith as a religious or spiritual experience. Which it definitely can be! The faith I connect with here is the idea that your imagination is directed towards a goal or destination. If you have a map, you know where you’re going and what’s between now and then. If you know the potential obstacles and issues that can arise, you know how to avoid, go around, or go through those obstacles. This is the faith I am talking about. The confidence in your direction.

The opposite of faith, is fear. Fear is your imagination undirected. You have no idea where you’re going and you have no idea how you’re going to get there. If you take a wrong turn, your GPS doesn’t event say, “RECALCULATING!” You just go down another street. And down that street, you have no idea where it leads. Fear sets in and doubt. These things can be very paralyzing for an athlete.

Your coach has a plan, I’m sure of it! Ask him! Ask her! Know where you’re going! If there isn’t a plan and you need one, let us know. We’ll get you started on the right path to where you want to go. The obstacles will be there. But you can have faith that you are on the journey in the right direction because you will have the tools you need to find your destination.

Determination

If you are not determined to achieve some sort of level, then what are you doing? I would venture to say that you’re just dabbling. And dabbling can be fun. But determination will help your pursuits when you get knocked down. When your plans take you to an obstacle, which happens to everyone, your determination will reset your mind to go hard after the destination you have chosen for yourself. It may not be in the exact moment you want. The lessons you take away with the lens of determination will make your life richer and your experience fuller.

It’s always a win to push through obstacles with determination. Keep your eyes focused on your goal or destination and determination will help you have a rich and full journey!

Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. The journey has many obstacles to navigate. Know what your next level is and go after it with Will, Energy, Creativity, Courage, Faith and Determination.