During practice, where is your head? High school prospects offered advice on how to approach improving

Practice is where real advancements happen

There is no more important time for a high school athlete wanting to be a college pr0spect than when practicing.  And how an athlete approaches practice is often the key to that athlete making critical gains in skill level and mental preparedness.  Here are the eight keys to getting the most out of practice each and every time:

• Mentality:  Set everything aside as you get dressed for practice.  Start to focus on how well you will listen to the coach, how hard you will work and the goals you want to achieve that day.
• Hydrate:  Being well hydrated before for practice is essential.  Drink plenty of liquids, preferably water, during the day so that your mind and body will avoid being victimized by the demands placed on you at practice.
• Intensity:  As practice gets closer, steadily get more engrossed in the moment until when you begin to warm up and practice starts that you are in “practice zone.”  Realize that this is when you will take small as well as large leaps in getting better and that the  only way to make huge strides is if you are locked in on the instruction you receive and the implementation of those directives from your coach.
• Work Ethic:  Practice comes and goes in bursts.  Honing skills then happens in small increments of time.  Knowing this, it is essential that you flip the “on” switch every time it is your turn to execute a drill.  Work as hard as possible.  Hustle an d give each rep 100% of your effort.
• Fight Through Fatigue:  Physical fatigue impacts mental attitude.  Be prepared to face this obstacle with mental toughness and fight your way through it.
• Enthusiasm:  Want to be there in the moment.  Constantly remind yourself what you are there for – to get better.  And go after every opportunity with a high degree of enthusiasm for what you are accomplishing.
• Leadership:  Encourage everyone around you to be better, to work harder, give them credit when they succeed and positive feedback when they fall short.  This leadership develops teamwork and helps everyone to get more out of each practice session.
• Extra work:  When formal practice is over, show your dedication by running two more sprints, taking 10 more shots or working ten more minutes on an area you know that you need improvement.