Competition vs. Practice

A balance of the practice and performance mindsets are necessary to achieve your full athletic potential.

Practice is a time to strive for perfection and focus on improvement. Use self-coaching techniques to improve your ability.

Competition is a time to have complete confidence in what you have trained to do, a reactive mindset, the ability to win ugly or just get the job done without regard to how it gets done!

Think about this for a minute, have you had the wrong mindset at the wrong time before? Most likely, YES.

For in the future, take the time to make sure you have the right mindset, prior to tightening that last lace on your shoe, putting the helmet on or even getting in the water!

For more information on mental toughness and athletic development go HERE.

The Freedom to FAIL!

Here is a great quote: "There can be no real freedom without the freedom to fail." -Erich Fromm

This couldn't be more true! Success comes from people who fail over and over again. Failure is where true learning happens. So don't have a fear of making a mistake, because if you do it is the same as being afraid to succeed!

Your Mindset

There is a quote by Wayne Dyer that states: "What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds." Take a few minutes to think about this. If we want positive things to happen to us, then doesn't it just seem right to visualize that positive thing in our mind first?

Forward this to a friend if you think they could benefit from this post.

Choices

When you think about it... No, REALLY think about it, your whole life is made up of thousands upon thousands of choices. Once you make a choice, you can't undo it either. I come across athletes her and there that think that the coaches don't like them or whatever excuse they are making up at that time. When really it was a laundry list of bad choices that they have made. These choices can be as simple as not giving 100% effort, not showing up to practice on time, or even socializing during practice when the coach is trying to teach the team something.

So think a little more about the effect of hundreds of minor choices you make in comparison to the goals you are trying to accomplish.

Seeing Is Believing!

Over the years I have seen this all to often with athletes in general ... "Not believing in themselves." Now a big part of the problem is that they truly can't see themselves as a successful athlete. They will state that they want to accomplish something, but it is very hard to get there if that person can't visualize the new "ME." To accomplish this it takes a severe amount of OPTIMISM, FOCUS and most importantly BELIEF in ones self!

Action Plan: Start visualizing success in your mind as if you are watching a movie play on a TV with you starring as the lead role in a film about the "Successful You!"

If you have any questions about this topic email me at: ryanb@championsquest.com

2009 Summer Camps -- Register Now!

Now Enrolling Summer Camps for Athletes!

CAMP DETAILS & REGISTRATION Forms: http://cqsummercamps.blogspot.com

About Us:
Champion's QUEST is the premier sports and athletic performance academy dedicated exclusively to young athletes. Our goal is to help every athlete achieve top performance. We combine the most comprehensive and effective athletic performance program with technical sports skill development. Our highly regarded Peak Performance Programs are customized for each athlete and are guaranteed to improve athletic speed, strength, agility, endurance, and mental toughness. Our Sports Performance programs increase technical skills with seasonal camps, weekly clinics, and professional individualized coaching.

Every Champion’s QUEST athlete has a powerful success story!

About the Camps:
All camps are Mon-Fri either 9-12:00p, 12-3:00p or 1-3:00p.
We offer Speed Camps, Volleyball Camps, Soccer Camps & Football Camps.

Schedule before June 15th for the Early bird Special Price of $129 (a $20 savings!) Act now to reserve your spot!
Call to ask about our multiple camp discount!

Yours in health & confidence,

-Ryan Bishel
Champion's QUEST
562-598-2600
ryanb@championsquest.com
www.youtube.com/cqathleteacademy
www.coachryanbishel.blogspot.com


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Beyond Training: Squeeze the Sponge!

Beyond Training: Squeeze the Sponge!

Beyond Training: Squeeze the Sponge!

Beyond Training: Squeeze the Sponge!

Squeeze the Sponge!

Ok, so what does "Squeeze the Sponge" mean?

Well I'm talking about "Effort." All to often I see athletes just going through the motions, which will cause a plateau in their performance. In order to progress as an athlete, all of the quick & explosive movements need to be pre-programmed into your neuromuscular system at 100% effort. Let me explain, if you perform 5 20yd sprints at 75, 80, 78, 95, 89% effort, then that is what you have pre-programmed into your system for "Game Day." You can not expect to be the quickest athlete out there if you haven't trained your body to do so on a consistent basis.

So the moral of the story is ... "Train your body at the speed at which you want it to perform on "Game Day" and except nothing less!"

~~~Thank me for posting this by the IMPLEMENTING IT! ~~~
Have a Crazy Athletic Day! -Ryan "Crazy Athletic" Bishel

Quote of the Day

Here's a good one for you:
Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret - curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.

Walt Disney

~~~Thank me for posting this by the IMPLEMENTING IT! ~~~
Have a Crazy Athletic Day! -Ryan "Crazy Athletic" Bishel

Quote of the Day

I hope everyone had a great Easter Weekend! Here is your Quote of the Day:

Our minds can shape the way a thing will be because we act according to our expectations.

-Federico Fellini

~~~Thank me for posting this by the IMPLEMENTING IT! ~~~
Have a Crazy Athletic Day! -Ryan "Crazy Athletic" Bishel

Composure

Athletes who focus too much on results or what others think, instead of the process, are likely to become anxious, scared, worried, and perform tentatively at best.

Thus, if you want maximum composure, you must learn to train yourself to focus only on the stuff in your direct control in sports. You can divide the competitive arena into two areas:

1. Things you can control: your thoughts, behaviors, performance, and reactions in both practice and competition.

2. Things beyond your control: events or persons that you cannot influence during competition and which cause you to be distracted from your real mission.

Your goal is to separate these two areas in your mind and focus only on what you can control during performance. You should ask yourself: What do I need to focus on that will help me perform my best?

The other important question to ask yourself: What things should I not give any energy to during my performance?

Your answer to these two questions will help you improve your composure in sports. You will not get as anxious or frustrated by giving energy to the stuff that is beyond your control.

~~~Thank me for posting this by the IMPLEMENTING IT! ~~~
Have a Crazy Athletic Day! -Ryan "Crazy Athletic" Bishel

Quote of the Day

This is a good one:

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Nelson Mandela

~~~Thank me for posting this by the IMPLEMENTING IT! ~~~
Have a Crazy Athletic Day! -Ryan "Crazy Athletic" Bishel

Quote of the Day

Think about this one a while...

What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.

Abraham Maslow

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Have a Crazy Athletic Day! -Ryan "Crazy Athletic" Bishel

Read this 5 Times In a Row!!!

"It's not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong;
not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what
we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not
what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity."
- Francis Bacon

~~~Thank me for posting this by the IMPLEMENTING IT! ~~~
Have a Crazy Athletic Day! -Ryan "Crazy Athletic" Bishel

The video that will change your attitude in sport!

If you are an athlete, Parent, Coach or all of the above... you need to watch this! This is the type of passion that every "True Team Player" needs to possess. The excitement from the teammates and fans should be present at al sporting events.

I Made A Mistake... Now What?

I read this article from a sport psychology resource that I have know for years. Check it out:

Does your young athlete have trouble coping with mistakes? Do
your athletes check out during games because they can't let go
of mistakes? In fact, 35% of sports parents we surveyed said
that their young athletes struggle with letting go of mistakes.

In other words, if your kids can't let go of mistakes, this can
spiral into real "mental game" challenges in sports. When this
spiral begins, young athletes become frustrated, lose
confidence, and get angry or give up altogether.

Some parents have described this syndrome as "checking out."
Their kids stop caring because they are in the grips of
frustration and anger. We admit that this sounds harsh, but this
is the reality. In fact, some kids, like the one mentioned
below, are even threatened with getting kicked off their teams!

In order to be successful, your young athletes need to learn how
to let go of mistakes and remain composed. If they can't stay
composed, they risk not playing up to their potential. Then one
mistake snowballs into more mistakes, which snowballs into the
fear of more missed goals, missed putts, turnovers, lost
rebounds....and more bad performances.

This is what it looks like: A young basketball player begins a
game with high hopes. But after a few missed shots, he stops
shooting. He's afraid of missing more shots. He stops taking
risks and plays very tentatively. He's not very effective, and
starts to feel frustrated--even angry.

Check out this Link: http://www.kidssportspsychology.com/public/department66.cfm

~~~Thank me for posting this by the IMPLEMENTING IT! ~~~
Have a Crazy Athletic Day! -Ryan "Crazy Athletic" Bishel

Breathing Techniques

As a competitive level athlete, learning how too properly breathe can be one of your best assests. Is is very typical of athletes to hold their breath when contracting ther muscles during physical activity. This stops the flow of oxygen to your muscles. Think of pinching off a garden hose. So get in the habit of inhaling during the negative phase of an exercise and exhaling during the contraction phase of the exercise.

Another tip is to work on slowing down your breathing pattern during high intensity cardiovascular activity. When you can feel your heart beating through your chest, try to count 3-5 beats during both the inhale and exhale phase. Start at 3 and work up to 5.

I'll Leave you with this:
"Remember, you can accomplish anything you truly believe in. So find out what it is that you believe in."

Job Interview Tip

The following are some tips form Harvey Mackay that I found for you all to read over. In this tough job market, you need to step up your game in order to set yourself apart!

When you enter an interviewer's office, zero in on memorabilia and personal touches:

What books are prominently displayed on the shelves? Can you share a comment or two about an important lesson you learned from reading one of the authors?
Autographed photos and civic or industry awards can be particular points of personal pride. If you can offer some authentic praise or admiration, consider making a passing comment.
The individual's laptop, monitor or other office equipment can open up a conversational opportunity.
A job interview is fundamentally a sales encounter. People buy from people they like. And people hire people they like. It's that simple. People like people who are genuine, pleasant, sincere, easy to talk with and friendly.

Have a clever story, quote, or anecdote or two in mind that you can slip into the conversation. Something positive and memorable. Billionaire Oprah Winfrey, for example, uses an unforgettable trademark line: "I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes."

Follow-up a job interview with a handwritten thank-you note. They are essential, especially when they mention how you will fit into the company's culture or help meet its immediate business needs.

SELF TALK

The biggest hurdle to overcome while trying to end the negative thinking mentality is changing how you talk to yourself. Think Positive-Constructive, not negative-negative. Think: "This was good, this can be better." One other thing, this thought process needs to take place in under 3 seconds. That's right, move on to the next play.

Start Your New Year off Right!

Keep only cheerful, positive friends.

Enjoy the simple things.

Laugh often.

Stay in shape.

Cherish your health.

Be happy.

Don't stress out.

Don't take guilt trips.

Visualize yourself as youthful and with endless energy.

Remember, You Can Accomplish Anything You Truly Believe In... Visualize Success!

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Happy New Year to everyone!

I wish you all the best this 2009!

You can accomplish anything you truly believe in.

Just remember, you have to let your actions speak louder than your words!

Let's make it a memorable one!