Value
Polish your Value
What is your value?
Everyone knows someone that knows someone else that knows you. What’s interesting is the College Coaches rarely tell someone why they really didn’t see that specific Student Athlete as a fit. It’s because it’s easier to answer the few that can fit the program instead of the many that do not. College Coaches simply do not have enough time to provide feedback for every athlete that is interested in playing for them. Even in some cases where the coach does provide insightful feedback, the player or family will disregard it if the reaction is not what they were hoping. I find it very interesting that when I share an opportunity to improve with someone that their reaction is usually defensive instead of inquisitive. The Student Athlete that receives it and asks “how” to fix it is the type of Student Athlete that I’ve seen succeed in College. Think how many people you know that have had a negative interaction with another person but they choose not to disclose it to them. You know why? It is because they know that it won’t be well received and is usually turned around as a negative to the person trying to provide you constructive feedback. Take the time to acknowledge the people that do provide you feedback or coaching or even constructive criticism. You should appreciate that they care enough to invest in providing you that new direction. It’s up to you what you do with it and how you handle it so keep in mind that your reaction may be shared with other Coaches that “You’re Not Coachable” or “Unwilling To Take Feedback.” What you do with the feedback and how you apply it only benefits you.
A College Coach recently shared with me that she asked every member of the team what value they bring to the program. The answers varied from Stats, Attitude, Support, Friendship and one said she just “Shows Up”. With a little laughter we discussed the answers. Value can be described as a contribution to the team towards the overall team vision, mission, and goals. If you’re a member of a team then you have a responsibility to provide valuable contributions that meet the expectations of the team. Have you ever asked the College Coach what value they expect you to bring? They can hand you a long list I’m sure.
Ask yourself if you’re providing the best value to your team, to your teammates, and to your coaches you currently play for. Then see what the College Coaches say. Everyone is different so they’ll bring a different value set to the team and it is up to the Coach to make it all work. Do more than is asked of you. If you’re only doing what everyone else is doing is that really being an elite athlete? The elite ones not only have the talent to be there but they work on improving their talent. Some come with natural talent but have to work on their teamwork skills or their mental or emotional skills. Everyone has something they can be better at to contribute a higher level of value to the end result.
The phrase “Quality At-Bats” is the best way to describe the game. A quality at bat means that everything was working but the end result wasn’t necessarily what you had planned. Self-assessment is a very mature perspective to have as a Student Athlete but it needs to be with caution. Assess what you control and what you can influence, not the uncontrollable. If you have an at bat where you made excellent contact and hit an amazing shot into the outfield but the outfielder made an amazing play, it is not something to beat yourself up for or be disappointed so give credit where credit is due and own what you can change and what you can influence.
To be valuable to any team or even to yourself, you need a plan. Understand what is needed to be valuable on the team and put a timeline on it. Then back it up into what you need to do monthly, weekly, and daily to reach that goal. Then assess it as you work your plan and make adjustments. How much more can you add to the plan to get where you want to go? Is it realistic? Do you control all the components in the goal? Have an Advocate or an expert evaluate the plan to make sure it is realistic and attainable.
Value to a team can simply be displaying positional flexibility. Team sports also require individual contributions and effort to do more than what is expected of you. Being a valuable member of a team means you step up in many other ways than what is expected from you and that may mean something different to every College Coach.
Go above and beyond and reach for something new if you want to be a valuable member of a team. Set goals and ask your coaches (that you play for now) if there is one thing you could do more of to add additional value to your team. See what other mentors and supporters think that could be. They may have more insight on what is needed as they may have a different view of the goals. Everyone views things differently so getting others feedback and applying it can only add additional value to the team.
What is your value?
Everyone knows someone that knows someone else that knows you. What’s interesting is the College Coaches rarely tell someone why they really didn’t see that specific Student Athlete as a fit. It’s because it’s easier to answer the few that can fit the program instead of the many that do not. College Coaches simply do not have enough time to provide feedback for every athlete that is interested in playing for them. Even in some cases where the coach does provide insightful feedback, the player or family will disregard it if the reaction is not what they were hoping. I find it very interesting that when I share an opportunity to improve with someone that their reaction is usually defensive instead of inquisitive. The Student Athlete that receives it and asks “how” to fix it is the type of Student Athlete that I’ve seen succeed in College. Think how many people you know that have had a negative interaction with another person but they choose not to disclose it to them. You know why? It is because they know that it won’t be well received and is usually turned around as a negative to the person trying to provide you constructive feedback. Take the time to acknowledge the people that do provide you feedback or coaching or even constructive criticism. You should appreciate that they care enough to invest in providing you that new direction. It’s up to you what you do with it and how you handle it so keep in mind that your reaction may be shared with other Coaches that “You’re Not Coachable” or “Unwilling To Take Feedback.” What you do with the feedback and how you apply it only benefits you.
A College Coach recently shared with me that she asked every member of the team what value they bring to the program. The answers varied from Stats, Attitude, Support, Friendship and one said she just “Shows Up”. With a little laughter we discussed the answers. Value can be described as a contribution to the team towards the overall team vision, mission, and goals. If you’re a member of a team then you have a responsibility to provide valuable contributions that meet the expectations of the team. Have you ever asked the College Coach what value they expect you to bring? They can hand you a long list I’m sure.
Ask yourself if you’re providing the best value to your team, to your teammates, and to your coaches you currently play for. Then see what the College Coaches say. Everyone is different so they’ll bring a different value set to the team and it is up to the Coach to make it all work. Do more than is asked of you. If you’re only doing what everyone else is doing is that really being an elite athlete? The elite ones not only have the talent to be there but they work on improving their talent. Some come with natural talent but have to work on their teamwork skills or their mental or emotional skills. Everyone has something they can be better at to contribute a higher level of value to the end result.
The phrase “Quality At-Bats” is the best way to describe the game. A quality at bat means that everything was working but the end result wasn’t necessarily what you had planned. Self-assessment is a very mature perspective to have as a Student Athlete but it needs to be with caution. Assess what you control and what you can influence, not the uncontrollable. If you have an at bat where you made excellent contact and hit an amazing shot into the outfield but the outfielder made an amazing play, it is not something to beat yourself up for or be disappointed so give credit where credit is due and own what you can change and what you can influence.
To be valuable to any team or even to yourself, you need a plan. Understand what is needed to be valuable on the team and put a timeline on it. Then back it up into what you need to do monthly, weekly, and daily to reach that goal. Then assess it as you work your plan and make adjustments. How much more can you add to the plan to get where you want to go? Is it realistic? Do you control all the components in the goal? Have an Advocate or an expert evaluate the plan to make sure it is realistic and attainable.
Value to a team can simply be displaying positional flexibility. Team sports also require individual contributions and effort to do more than what is expected of you. Being a valuable member of a team means you step up in many other ways than what is expected from you and that may mean something different to every College Coach.
Go above and beyond and reach for something new if you want to be a valuable member of a team. Set goals and ask your coaches (that you play for now) if there is one thing you could do more of to add additional value to your team. See what other mentors and supporters think that could be. They may have more insight on what is needed as they may have a different view of the goals. Everyone views things differently so getting others feedback and applying it can only add additional value to the team.