The Tim Tebow Craze…How Does He Do It?

The recent Tim Tebow craze has been nothing short of remarkable.  The second year quarterback out of the University of Florida has led his Denver Broncos team to seven wins in his eight games as a starter this year.  He has done it in dramatic fashion, posting fourth quarter comeback wins in an incredible six of those games.  One who doesn’t know football would assume that his statistics would need to be at least above average to win so many games in a short period of time, but that simply is not the case.  He ranks dead last (32^nd) in the NFL in the categories of completion percentage and yards per game.  He is only completing 48.5 percent of his passes and averages a mere 117 yards per game.  So what is it that Tim Tebow has that makes him such a winner?  In this article, I am going to tell you a few of the traits Tim Tebow possesses that have helped him become such a great winner.

Image via Wikipedia

1.  Drive to Succeed

Tim Tebow always has had an innate drive to succeed.  His mindset is to live every day to the fullest and do as much as he possibly can with his time.  Whether it is through football or in other areas of life, Tebow has always wanted to be the best he can be and gives all of his effort in his endeavors.  In football specifically, nobody practices and plays harder than Tebow.  Practice is just as important as the games themselves, since what you do in practice prepares you to do your best in games.  Tebow realizes this and takes it to heart.  Tebow once said “I don’t believe it’s the will to win.  It’s the will to prepare.  If you wake up early, stay late, grind, games will come easy to you.”

2.  Confidence

Confidence is another trait that Tim Tebow possesses that enables him to do seemingly miraculous things.  Even though he is evidently not nearly as talented as many other NFL starting quarterbacks, he always keeps his head high and truly believes that he is going to do good things on the football field and win.  Even in his interviews, when he is often criticized for not having great statistics, he doesn’t ever let his critics get to him.  This confidence on and off the field is contagious; it instills a sense of confidence in his teammates and encourages them to also give everything they have each day in practice and on game days.

3.  Leadership Qualities

Tebow’s leadership qualities are crucial to his success as well.  For a moment let’s go back to his Florida days.  After being upset by Ole Miss in 2008, Tim Tebow gave one of the most memorable post-game speeches in not only college football history, but in sports history.  Now often referred to as “The Promise,” Tim Tebow came out and promised the nation that nobody would practice and play as hard as he would for the rest of the season.  He didn’t even field questions from the press, he just gave his 45 second speech and left the podium.  This is a perfect example of how Tim Tebow is a great leader.  This speech instilled a sense of pride in Tim Tebow’s teammates and eventually the team went on to win its third ever National Championship.  A good leader takes things into his own hands while getting others to buy into what he is saying and follow him, and that is exactly what Tim Tebow has shown he can do.  Even while highly doubted and criticized in the NFL, Tebow continues to make passionate pre-game speeches that rally his teammates around him and make them play their hearts out.  His teammates recognize his innate drive to succeed and win, contagious confidence, and extraordinary leadership capabilities, and they give it their all for him.

As an athlete, no matter what level, no matter how skilled you are, I would strongly encourage you to try to match your drive to succeed, confidence, and leadership qualities to Tim Tebow’s.  It is clear that if you can do this successfully, the sky is the limit as to what you can accomplish.

Sources

http://briandoddonleadership.com/2011/04/22/23-leadership-quotes-from-tim-tebow/

How Injuries Affect Athletes and Helpful Coping Strategies

Whatever the sport is that you love, you know that one of the worst things that could possibly happen to you is to sustain a serious injury during the season.  After all the practices and games, that sport becomes your life, and when you cannot play, you suddenly feel lost.  When an injury occurs, athletes try to ignore the pain or try to hide the injury from their coach or athletic trainer in fear of missing out on game time.  There are few things that an athlete hates more than sitting on the sidelines.  Now, what happens to an athlete when they are kept from playing because of an injury?  The answer is that it takes a significant psychological toll on the athlete. This adverse psychological effect on the athlete happens for three main reasons:  our sport is our sense of identity, our major source of self-esteem, and/or a constructive way for us to cope with our stress. 

When one is injured, an athlete faces at least one, if not all of these psychological factors that can overwhelm them due to the internal and external losses they are going through.  The feeling of losing one’s identity when unable to continue playing the sport they love, is a very common psychological side effect of being injured. If you are unfortunate enough to sustain such an injury that limits or causes you to miss out on practice or game-time for a substantial amount of time, it can be really hard on you.  Athletes immediately begin to feel as if they are losing their identity, which is often referred to as “identity confusion”.   If you are a baseball player, for example, who has a major shoulder injury that is so debilitating that it ends your career, what do you do?  If you have played the game since you were a little kid, you begin to question who you are without your sport.  This causes stress and in some cases depression among certain individuals. 

An athletes’ self esteem can often take a serious hit when one is injured, and, consequently is forced to depend on other people for help and support. Most athletes have a strong sense of being very independent.  They become so consumed in the game that they begin to rely solely on the routines and rituals that they have developed on their own to prepare themselves for their lives on and off the field.  Now, however, they have to learn how to be dependent on doctors, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and everyone else around them.  This is not an easy thing to do after becoming so accustomed to handling situations on one’s own.

Also, with all the time to yourself and trying to recover, you begin to feel alienated.  Being at practices and doing your warm-ups every day for years, you begin to have a routine.  Once you are injured and out of the game, you feel as if you do not know what to do with yourself, and in some cases you can feel as if you have no one.  Whether it is your baseball team, soccer team, hockey team, or your coaches; these are the people that you spend most of your time with, and who begin to become your entire life.  Along with this comes stress.  When you used to have a really stressful day, you could count on your teammates, coaches, or even sprints to take out that stress for you.  When what you lean on and are familiar with gets taken away from you, you suddenly need to find other ways to cope with all of these new problems in your life.  A lot of athletes treat their injuries with denial, which is never healthy.  So here is a list of coping strategies that have been proven to help you if an injury does occur.

1. Be Sad:  Feeling is one of the most important parts of the healing process.  You can only be strong for so long.  So do not allow yourself to just be strong, brave, or macho.  Doing this does not help you cope any faster.

2. Deal with what it is: The sooner you accept what happened, the better off you will be in the end.  Athlete’s tend to focus on “what was” and “what could have been” instead of what is happening right now.  You cannot change what happened no matter how much you want to.

3. Set new goals for yourself (but keep them realistic): Do not try to do more than you are capable of.  You need to let yourself heal and regain the strength back in your arm, leg or wherever you are injured.  Take baby steps until you are ready to achieve your old goals again. 

 4. Keep a positive attitude: Negativity slows down the healing process and is never good.  You must continue to have a positive attitude throughout the whole process and as Dr. Alan Goldberg stated, “If it is to be, it is up to me.”

5. Take an active part in your healing: Use healing imagery to help you feel less helpless and hopeless throughout your rehab.  Do not cut corners, and make it to every rehab, listen to the doctors no matter what they tell you to do or not to do, and be smart about when you are ready to get back out on the field again. 

6. Don’t stop practicing and working out: Practice mentally, or if you are able to work out with your injury, do so.  Go to your team practices and watch, and mentally rehearse what you would be doing out there; every step, every touch, communication.  This keeps the neuromuscular connections activated so it is like you never missed a beat.

 7. Use your experience as an athlete in other areas of your life: You may feel as if you have no other skills, if you are forced to retire from your sport because of a very serious injury.  However, this is not the case.  Every athlete learns and practices success skills such as commitment, dedication, persistence, motivation, time management, and much more.  These are some of the greatest set of life skills that you can use in your everyday life, so don’t let them go to waste.

8. Seek out the support of your teammates, coaches, and family: Do not separate yourself from your team.  Go to the practices and games no matter how much it hurts you to not be able to play.  Isolating yourself will only do more harm to you physically and mentally.  Make sure you reach out to all of them when you are in need, they will always be there for you. 

 9. Seek out a counselor if it gets too bad: Getting the help from a professional is a sign of strength, not weakness, so if you are feeling very miserable and depressed for a period of time, don’t be afraid to seek out the help of a therapist.  Talking to someone who can understand is always helpful and can get you back on your feet again.

 10. BE PATIENT: Make sure you give your body enough time to heal properly.  Do not jump right back into it the day you start to feel a little bit better; this will only slow down your healing process.  And as Dr. Alan Goldberg also stated, “go slower, arrive sooner.”

REFERENCES:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sportspsychology/a/Injury_Coping.htm

http://www.competitivedge.com/resources_rebounding_from_injuries.htm

NBA Players Use Lockout to Pursue Education

With the NBA lockout lasting nearly 150 days, NBA players needed to find something to keep them busy.  Several decided to take their talents overseas, including Deron Williams and Tony Parker, some decided to stay put train here in the United States, and others focused on doing work in the community.  Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Baron Davis, and New Orleans Hornets guard Trevor Ariza had a different idea.  These four decided to head back out to California and re-enroll at UCLA and take classes.  Each of them were stars while playing their college ball at UCLA and left for the NBA prior to finishing school, so they all decided it would be a great time to head back to school and inch closer to getting their degrees.  Additionally, being in California has enabled these players to continue their training routines at top-of-the-line facilities and train with other All-Star caliber NBA players.

Image via Wikipedia

Ariza explains that he decided to go back to school for his two sons.  “Eventually they’re going to realize that their dad fulfilled his dreams doing what he wanted to do and still got his degree. For them to see that will be a great example for them to follow,’ said Ariza.  He believes that this lockout is not such a bad thing in that it has a real chance at encouraging other players in the same position that he is in to go back and continue their education.  With the recent news that the lockout is coming to an end, Ariza plans to continue to take online classes.

UCLA’s athletics assistant director of academic services Kenny Donaldson played a big role in recruiting these former players to come back to school.  He has always reminded former players that even though they may have left school early to go to the NBA, it is important and possible that they return at some point to work toward their graduation.  “When the lockout looked like it was going to be a definite thing, I kind of sat down with each of them and laid out a game plan,” Donaldson said in talking about these four NBA players.  “You don’t want to get them back in something that they’re not going to be interested in. I presented them with options and they found classes that they thought would be interesting, and are easing back into it right now.”

Other NBA players are also returning to school.  Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Randolph rented an apartment in Baton Rouge within walking distance of his former school Louisiana State University.  He only played one season at LSU before being drafted in the NBA, so he was eager to get back to school.  He enrolled in a math class in the summer and has taken three classes this fall.  “I don’t have the basketball distraction. I’m a more focused student now after being in the real world for a couple of years,” says Randolph.

Image via Wikipedia

With the average NBA career lasting just under 5 years, there is a lot of life for most players after basketball.  Even though many NBA players often receive outrageous contracts that make them multi-millionaires, many others aren’t nearly as fortunate.  The league minimum salary still makes those who receive it extremely wealthy in the meantime, but with the average career length being so short, getting an education can be crucial for many.  It open the door to countless opportunities in life after basketball, and many players are urged to head back to school so they are ensured to be taken care of financially later in life.

As an avid fan this NBA lockout seemed absolutely ridiculous and was certainly extremely frustrating.  However, when I look at it from a different point of view, I realize that period of time really gave players a chance to do things they otherwise wouldn’t have, as was true for Love, Westbrook, Davis, Ariza, Randolph and others.  It is refreshing to see so many players deciding to go back to their respective universities and really use the lockout to their advantage.  Other things matter in life besides playing your sport, and it’s important for all athletes to realize that and utilize whatever opportunities they get to pursue other things, such as getting their education.

Sources

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-spears_nba_players_ucla_080911

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/08/10/11/some-nba-players-back-school-due-lockout

http://www.takingbadschotz.com/?p=1530

Music and it’s Affect on Athletic Performance

An athlete’s mental psyche is one of the most vital parts of his or her athletic performance. As any athlete knows, and has probably experienced, there are two sides of the mental spectrum that affect an athlete’s game: confidence and trepidation (fear). In a constant effort to hone one’s skills and improve performance, athletes are always looking for anything that will give them confidence and help them overcome intimidation – or in other words, give them the competitive edge. Listening to music while working out is a very popular practice amongst athletes. It is rare that a day goes by that I don’t see a person jogging through the neighborhood or someone lifting weights in the gym without having their headphones in. But can the music really improve an athlete’s work out? Let’s look at some common opinions on the subject:

Opinion 1

Fast tempo music has no effect on heart rate, but does increase the tenacity and motivation of the athlete allowing them to work out more intensely and for a greater duration of time.

Opinion 2

Fast tempo music increases the heart rate causing the individual to feel fatigued quicker. On the other hand, slow tempo music slows the heart rate and allows the athlete to breathe more easily for longer, allowing them to extend their work out.

Opinion 3

Music acts has no physical effect on an athlete and acts solely as a “distraction” from his or her fatigue, which, consequently, allows them to work out for longer periods of time.

Opinion 4

Music’s impact on an athlete’s performance is determined by his or her expectations of the effects of adding the stimulus. If an athlete believes that music will improve his performance, then it will (and vice versa). This idea is often referred to as the “placebo effect”.

Many experiments have been carried out to determine which hypothesis was correct. The answer, unfortunately, is rather ambiguous. Each hypothesis has been tested and the researchers who conduct these experiments have found data that supports each one.

In my opinion, the right answer depends on the situation the athlete is in. When I go for long runs, I like to listen to calming music that seems to make the run less painful. Listening to slow music while running, I find that my mind often wanders and bounces from thought to thought; distracting me from my own fatigue. When I work out more intensely I like to listen fast tempo music in order to get me in the right frame of mind. Listening to fast tempo music I find myself picturing a situation in which I dominate my opponent: boosting my adrenaline and motivating me to keep striving. I believe that each athlete has their own desired outcome from listening to music and the way that it affects you depends on your own unique mindset.

No matter what opinion you have, the idea that listening to music while working out has a positive effect is generally accepted.  Now what about during the game? Since taking headphones into the game is not permitted, how can athletes use music to improve their game?  I will answer these questions with another question – have you ever witnessed a team huddling together and performing a team chant? I know I have. This is a common practice amongst teams and can have very powerful motivational advantages. While it may not be the exact same as listening to music, it does have very similar effects on the individual. It can help increase a team’s energy, boost adrenaline, and promote team unity and confidence.

REFERENCES:

http://www.livescience.com/2953-amazing-power-music-revealed.html

http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/nsfall05/LabpacketArticles/TheEffectsofMusiconAthlet.html

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/2474

Tips for Success in College: Transitioning from One Level to the Next

When you leave high school you have collected a huge array of activities that work for you in succeeding in what you need to do. As you enter college those ideals and efforts have to be tweaked for maximizing success. Sure you can use those same methods from high school but chances are you will just come out mediocre in what you do, instead of fully succeeding. All the added pressures and ideals you have to uphold through compliance, academics, and your athletic team sometimes seem unlikely to accomplish but with the right information I can help relieve some of that and turn it in to positive energy towards your academics, athletics, and life

1. Make sure your teachers know who you are! It is important that your teachers know what is on your plate, so introducing yourself in your classes and explaining that you are an athlete will help your teacher comprehend. Make sure you continue to communicate with them throughout the semester; because it is said the better you know a teacher the more they will help, be concerned, and give you a little bump if you need it when the end of the semester comes

2. Take advantage of the Athletics Academic facility. The academic section for athletics is a huge area to lend help for success. Your advisors are willing to help you when you are struggling, will communicate with your teachers, and help get something set up to assist you better to understand the class materials. Tutors are very important in the athletic department because they can help you tremendously; if you academic department through athletics doesn’t supply tutors in house I am sure they still offer them, so you should defiantly ask and take advantage.

3. Get to know Student Services through Athletics. Student services is a place where you want to know all the people. They are willing to help you because they want you to succeed. They have a wide array of knowledge in their office that can help you in all areas; they will help you out in whatever situation you need and if they cannot help they will refer you to that right person.

4. Talk to your coach. It is good to have a bond with your coach, go to their office and have a conversation with them. Just talk to them, get to know them and let them get to know you. Explain what you have on your plate and what other concerns you have. Forming a bond with your coach is beneficial because it will help when you have a problem or situation by simply opening up another route.

5. Get to know the Athletic Director. You may not understand why you should know the athletic director but it is very beneficial. They are powerful within the university and could help you out when needed. Make sure you take time to introduce yourself to them and have a little conversation. Not only will this relationship benefit you during your college years but also beyond.

6. Set up a weekly schedule for yourself. A good time management tip is to make a weekly schedule that puts a certain amount of study time for each class, your practice times, and your class times. If you can stick to a schedule like this it will benefit you greatly. It will lend a hand because you won’t be doing last minute studying and homework assignments, in most classes this will either put you ahead of what you need to do or keep you right on target for the whole semester.

7. Get sleep. As an athlete you need your sleep, especially in college; practices are more intense and school is more tedious. Make sure that you are getting adequate amounts of sleep at night and not pulling all nighters multiple days in a week

8. Eat properly. You may be wondering how eating falls in with success but if you don’t have energy you aren’t going to function properly in the classroom or on your playing field. Make sure that you are eating good energy foods. Fast food every night will only harm you not help you.

9. Be Smart. Be smart with what you do. Know the rules of your team and the university before partaking in sketchy activities. Also remember that your muscles and vitals are more important to you than anyone else, so think twice before drinking or indulging in something that will harm your body, performance, or academics.

10. Stay motivated!! Sometimes it is draining being involved with many activities and no time for you. Stay motivated even when you feel like giving out, it will only pay off in the end.

I hope that you find these tips helpful in succeeding in college, both in athletics and academics. It is a rigorous life and schedule indulging into college level courses along with the intensity of college sports. I hope this list of tips helps relieve stress and leads to success on the field and in the classroom.