7 qualities of winning athletes

Sports

All things being equal, what is different about winning athletes? When elite athletes compete, the skills gap between the first and last athlete is relatively small. You’ll need to dig a little deeper to understand what separates the top 1% of elite athletes from the rest.

Bryan Bennett, the red-jersey first-year quarterback for the University of Oregon Ducks, showed the qualities of a great quarterback. He was given the opportunity to play in the game against Arizona State University after Darron Thomas was injured. Many athletes have the physical ability, but it takes more than that to get into a close game and win. “I just tried to stay calm and collected and composed and go out and play soccer and have fun,” Bennett said.

Proper training builds strength and endurance. Mindset strategies improve focus and build confidence. Both components, physical training combined with mental game strategies, are necessary for high performance.

Elite athletes view performance and victory from a different set of lenses. Where elite athletes place their focus and attention is different than the average athlete.

1. Motivation: There is a burning desire to be the best that you can be. Being good enough is not enough. Elite athletes have a deep need to always improve, taking their performance to the next level.

2. Initiative – Motivated athletes don’t wait for permission to do something. They are leaders in everything they do and set the standard for excellence.

3. No excuses: total commitment is necessary to be the best. Rather than viewing obstacles as problems, elite athletes approach them as challenges to overcome. The goal is the main focus.

4. Determination: all challenges have solutions. Elite athletes actively seek opportunities to help them achieve their goal. Failure is not an option.

5. Strengths-based approach: Focus on strengths. Elite athletes know where they excel and use it to their advantage. Find the best approach based on your strengths. Also develop the skills necessary to minimize weaknesses.

6. Extra Mile: A strong commitment prepares elite athletes to go the extra mile. Even when no one is looking, they continue to push themselves to be the best they can be.

7. Hard-minded – Athletes are expected to do things that stretch them all the time. Hard-minded athletes acknowledge discomfort, but don’t let it stop them. Taking risks and exceeding your comfort zone is part of the champion mentality.

A success mindset is more natural for some than for others. Fortunately, it is not a birthright. Similar to new techniques and skill sets, a champion mindset can be learned. It might have been easy for Bennett to panic, under the circumstances. It was a very pressure situation. When he faced the challenge, his teammates responded positively to his confidence and calm.

The champion mindset focuses on solutions, not problems. Elite athletes are creative in their approach to challenges and are willing to take risks. Bennett had to do with results. Solution-focused attention, coupled with a positive mindset, affected his approach to challenging play. He found opportunities to play his “A” game. Bennett’s champion mentality contributed to the duck’s winning game.

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