Master It!

A few years ago, an 8th grade football athlete I was coaching, approached me and said, “I want to play in college!  What do I need to do?”

The answer to the question, “What do I need to do?” is one that is not only applicable to this football athlete but applicable to any athlete, any employee, any business owner and anyone that is a part of a team.  So here is the answer.

In order to be the best at anything, it requires that you become a “master” or “expert” of that sport, job, activity or career.  That young man wanted to go get his pads and helmet on and go straight out to the field and start playing.  He had the desire and the skills to go get started and possibly have some success.  But, he lacked the mastery of the fundamentals .  He had not perfected the basics of his position or his role.  You see, this young man had to first learn how to master the techniques and fundamentals in the weight room.  He had to learn how to harness his power and use his skills to develop in that weightroom.  Without this baseline mastery, he would never reach his potential.  Next, the young man had to master the conditioning aspect of his position and learn that his body is able to master and conquer the pain he endures during condtioning.  It is this physical and mental conditioning that starts an an athlete to build real, personal self confidence.  It’s the mastering of this conditioning that allows the young man to know he can go longer, farther and harder than his mind thinks.  Next, the young man must STEP before he walks or even runs.  He must master the footwork and the handwork needed to perform his role.  He must learn and master the fundamental steps that he must perform on EVERY SINGLE play that puts him in a position to be successful.  He must learn how to use those steps, that he has done thousands of times in an effort to perfect and master, to position himself in a way to win. He can’t run at full speed until he has mastered those steps.  After that he can begin to take repetitions at half speed while learning how to maintain that perfect step, that mastery of the fundamentals.  Once that athlete has mastered the steps and hand placement during half speed reps,he can then rep it full speed learning to maintain the mastery of the technical aspects.  It is then and not until then, can this athlete put on the pads and begin to learn how to master his technical craft live and in person against another moving, active person.  Even then, the athlete must complete rep after rep at full speed against competition while maintaining mastery of the techniques in order to succeed!

For 4 years, this young man worked at his craft!  He mastered the basic fundamental technical aspects of his role on the team.  He never worried about the other positions on the field and what his team mates did or didn’t do.  The young man mastered his role and became a leader and dominant force that was elevated by his peers and awarded great honors for his simple accomplishment.  He simply mastered his role!  He mastered the fundamentals of his part of the team.  He succeeded and today plays his sport at the D1 level, where the honors and accolades continue because………..well,he has mastered his techniques and understands his role!

Folks, why the story?  If you are an athlete, well, become the MASTER of your position by understanding that you MUST master the basics.  If you never master the basics, you will never reach the highest level possible.  To my fellow coaches, NSR scouts and friends in the work place, what does this story say to you?  Understand your role inside your organization.  If you don’t understand your role, you can never become a master.  Next, you MUST MASTER the very basic fundamental roles of your position if you ever want to succeed to the fullest of your ability.  Know your role!  Focus on mastering it! Become the MASTER!  It’s your decision.  Stay focused.

At NSR, for 34 years, our scouts have MASTERED the scouting and recruiting of high school kids wanting to play in college.  Do you have a child or know a young person that wants to play in college?  Contact National Scouting Report (NSR) and let the RECRUITING and SCOUTING MASTERS see if that young person qualifies!  Go HERE to request a FREE evaluation.

Coach Robert Cagle