So who & what is a great competitor?

[NumeroUno]

So who & what is a great competitor?

In Practice - She's the gal who knows what she is supposed to do and does it correctly; and, not just when coaches are watching. She understands the value of practicing hard & correctly and knows its importance to herself and her team. She practices how she plays! She challenges herself and is interested in becoming her best- not just better!

In Games - She is mentally prepared and has a plan for every at-bat and every situation. Because of her great practice habits, she can kick her game plan into gear with little concern for not being prepared. Coaches know they can count on her!
The Ultimate Competitor is the Ultimate Team Player!
1. She doesn't care who the hero is.
2. She's going to compete to help her team win!
3. She wants her teammates to do well!

Players come in all shapes, sizes & personalities.

But, successful players all learn the importance of being a great competitor!

The Young Player
Teach & Learn The Love of The Game!
A competitive nature can start at a young age, but first a player must learn to love the game. Without that love, she may never get to that point where the rest even matters. This (The love of the game) is overwhelmingly more important than the rest (outcome).
This knowledge can come from the head of the dinner table, an older sibling, a teacher or coach, older or other teammates, opposing players; anywhere really. What's more important is that it becomes how a player goes about her business on the field.
Some Examples of Great Competitors- (Sorry, these examples are all from the baseball world…but, I don’t think the message is any different if it’s baseball or softball!)
1. The 4th best player on my best 14-year old team ever is now a 2nd year pro after a stellar college career and a trip to Omaha as a freshman. He made himself into a ballplayer. He wanted it more than anyone else on that team. And, is still playing while those who were his superior are now out of the game or finishing their college careers as their last stop.

[NoNothin]

Well said Brotha, and not every kid has what it takes no matter how bad the parents want it...