ATHLETE:A Different Breed

Coach Savage posted a picture of Bo Jackson last week and he briefly described what an Athlete was & is. He said, "an athlete has the ability to perform in & out of various sports at a high level with ease in transition!" Bo Jackson was the IDEAL ATHLETE in our opinion. Today, we want us to further discuss what an athlete is and why ATHLETES are a "different breed". 

 

Athletes come in two forms, one is blessed with God giving talent and dominates the playing field with just pure athleticism. The other, has no special abilities and has to work twice as hard as the former in order to perform at the same level. However, both have the love of preparation (training) & competition through sports which in the end, makes them a "different breed". 

We want you to see yourself as a modern day gladiator. No matter what your sport may be, it is usually played in an arena, stadium or field atmosphere. People gather in order to watch, support, and cheer you and your team on as their past time. Athletes are worshipped and idolized by their fans due to the amazing feats they can achieve while making it look so easy/effortlessly. You, as an athlete prepare for "battle" with the opposing team through practice and depending on your sport you might have film to study*. Practice is where you sharpen and improve your skills (weapons) and abilities (physical and mental abilities aka "That thing") that you will eventually take into battle.

 

"Battles are won before they are fought."

-Sun Tzu. 

Athletes understand that they have to prepare not only physically but mentally before competition in order to perform to the best of their abilities. There is a reason why we play music before competition. It not only puts you to ease and it caters to your right brain, meaning your inner creator, problem solver, and versatile being that lives within you that will be on display during competition.

 

The physical part is done on the practice field where focus, repetition, an inner drive that has no limits, and a hunger for perfection; just to name a few, come together and is EMBODIED through the athlete. The mental part comes from being able to calm down and listen to "that thing" we discussed in our previous post. This mental calmness comes from self confidence and an aspiration for domination!

Aspire to dominate is our motto and we ourselves embody that motto. We want our athletes to dominate on and off the playing field. We want YOU to dominate all aspects of your lives so YOU can be in tune with "that thing" and when this occurs there is a remarkable change that happens within. Stress, anger, frustration, and worry turns into love for the game, hunger for perfection, self confidence (*warning don't confuse this with cockiness) and an unexplainable joy when victory is achieved.

 

Now you take that focused individual and put him/her in any arena or playing field and they will amaze you with how easy they adapt. Adaptation is what separates ATHLETES from the rest. What do we mean by adaptation?

 

Adaptation: a characteristic or modification in an Athlete's body that helps it survive in it's habitat (sport). #savageteamEncyclopedia

 

Which brings us back to Bo Jackson, he didn't just play in the NFL and MLB. He dominated! Sadly, King Bo reigned for a short period in sports history but we got a glimpse of what an IDEAL ATHLETE can achieve. We, The Elite Athletic Program are ATHLETES! You put us on the soccer field and we'll go to work. Basketball court, track and field, VOLLEYBALL etc. we know what we can achieve! It's a sense of confidence, thrill for battle and thirst for SERIOUS competition that allows us to pick up anything and make it ours! We know how to ADAPT and we know ourselves. We train our ATHLETES in the same manner as we were brought up. We understand not all athletes are the same but the simple fact that you ARE an athlete, no matter where your current skill level may lay, THAT simple fact makes you a "different breed".  Embrace it!

The best way I think I can summarize this one up would be with a quote that I love. Shakespeare (Yea, we know. Shakespeare?! Yes!) and he said, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em." In order words, some are born with that gift of being a natural athlete and they don't fear greatness, some have to work SAVAGELY to reach the top, and some are thrown in the "sea of competition" where they can either sink or swim and come out on TOP! 

We would like to thank you for taking your time to read this and inspire your inner athlete.

-Aspire To Dominate 

 

 *Film study is key to success. If you have film to watch then do it! Film study is a place where you get the BLUEPRINT to your opponents. You get to see their tendencies, habits, and skills before you even face them. In college, I learned how to study and watch film so I could better myself and my team in the long run. It's an art and it can only be mastered through practice.(The answers before the test) 

DO's & DONT's for Combine/Tryout Performance

Combine season is approaching the DMV! Are your ready? Not only to run a 40 yard dash, but to display your athleticism, dominate at your position, and show your and coaches nationwide you are ready for the next level! 

You may be in the weight room getting stronger, building power & explosion for speed, and sculpting your body to an art form so coaches are impressed off first glance. Not only should your strength and speed be preped and ready, but you should know what to do and what not to do before lacing your cleats up! Mentally prepare yourself! Know how to conduct yourself & your mannerism for the most productive combine performance, highlighting your abilities for the next level! 

DONT's 

-DONT be out of shape 

|you are in attendance for a REASON, to be seen & recruited; have your body looking as good as possible, mind calm & in a good state, and your confidence to execute at a high volume|

-DONT stand with hands on hips, head, or bent over at waist

|always stand straight up and show your confidence, never let anyone know your are fatigue; SHOW NO WEAKNESS|

-DONT be unprepared

|know your position drills and all the combine drills before stepping into the event. Knowing what to expect is half the battle (like having the answers to a test), training & preparation is the other half| 

-DONT switch techniques 

|STAY TRUE TO YOUR TRAINING & PREPARATION, you have spent hours and hour repping ways you will perfom; the day of is NOT the time to change the way you are doing something because your nervous or see another technique you like. REMEMBER, your performance reflects YOU & NO ONE ELSE (BE YOU)|

-DONT give up or hang your head 

|confidence starts with a head held high, keep it there! You make a mistake, drop a ball, fall, whatever the case may be, MAKE SURE YOU SHOW NO DOUBT, maintain your composure! If indeed you do make a mistake, COME BACK THE FOLLOWING REP 100 TIMES BETTER|

-DONT WALK ANYWHERE

|you MUST run into every drill & out of every drills, have a sense of urgency in your performance, play, with your presence. You need water? sprint to it, you have to use the bathroom? sprint to! Once you are in combine mode, stay in it, turn nothing off sprint any & everywhere, time is priceless & opportunity is limited 

-DONT overthink anything

|relax your mind and let your talent & preparation take over! It is time to unleash what you have been building| 

DO's

-DO, make a statement with your performance. Have no doubt in your heart & leave it all on the field. 

|everything to gain comes from moments like these, SEIZE EACH REP & EVERY OPPORTUNITY| 

-DO, listen to directions carefully 

|cosches HATE repeating themselves, directions are usually very self explanatory no need to overthink and question; LISTEN, REPEAT IT IN YOUR HEAD, VISUALIZE YOURSELF DOING IT, and GO DO IT| 

-Do, see everyone as competition

|not only are the players that you may cover or run a route against your completion; but realize those at the same position as you are even competition, every position drill and test drill matters to set yourself apart. You may have a friend or a teammate you attend the combine with, sorry but combine day it's every man for himself or herself| 

-Do, finish THROUGH each and every drill 

|don't pull up short, jog through the line, attempt to look cute, or any combination of the previous listed; you look LAZY! Whether you trip, stumble, or even fall, FINISH FULL SPEED| 

 

CONCLUSION

Combines and tryouts are opportunities that should not be taken lightly, but also should be enjoyed and used as a learning experience. Each rep you get, which will be limited, must be an individual statement about you & the athlete that you are and can eventually grow to become. Preparation is key, just as is confidence! Prepare your brain and your body, know all drills that will be tested and any & all position drills that could be on the coaches mind. The coaches want to see you move, dip, and bend; do it all at max effort and leave nothing back.

-Each day, each workout, each rep;  an opportunity to grow and separate yourself! Do so! 

-Aspire To Dominate

THAT THING...

"That Thing"

There are plenty of different names for  what i'm referring to. And the result of it ranges from getting hype, to being in the zone, shooting lights out, being on fire, or just focused. 

There's this voice that we all hear when we compete, it's what makes you go to practice and compete savagely each day. Or during the second half of your game and you haven't been performing as you should. The voice that reminds you to forget and start new. We'll call it “that thing” since there are so many ways to describe it. I remember during one of my best games in high school, I scored 6 tds because I was in sync with "that thing".If you still don't know what we're referring to then you have a ways to go. But if you do know and have been in the zone where time itself slows down and everything is clear. 

A place where you can't make a mistake, your form is flawless, each step is perfect and you feel no fatigue. When your practicing with your team or with Coach Savage and you feel as if you can't possibly do another gasser, parachute run, band pull, or cone drill because your body is screaming for you to STOP! We want you to remind yourself that you are unbreakable. Not only physically but mentally, which comes first before the actual physical action. Remember that your thoughts dictate your actions and "that thing" is pushing you in order to reach that zone and stay there for as long as you can FOCUS. 

There's a reason why great athletes have great moments. They understand "that thing"and when the game is on the line, they deliver as expected and the crowd goes wild. Remember, we all have "that thing" in all of us. It's just on us to settle our thoughts and focusing on the goal. 

We, The Elite Athletic Program would like to thank you for taking your time to read this. 

Aspire to dominate!