“Adversity…”
Shared by Breanne Smedley
If you’ve ever played, coached, or watched any sporting event, it’s no surprise that there are typically more players on a team than can play on a court/field/area at once.
For example, I typically roster 12 on a volleyball team, but six players can be on a court at once.
Those other six that aren’t on the court still play an important role. Depending on the skillset and needs of the team, some will rotate into the front or back row to bolster our offense or defense.
Some are backups and will go in to relieve players. Some may go in to give the team another look, or matchup that we are looking for.
And some might not see the court at all during a match.
The hardest position to play-the bench.
I know it, I’ve been there. During a part of my college athletic career, I was a blocking sub at best. At worst, going matches without seeing the court.
But, I played in a program that emphasized roles. I knew mine and wholeheartedly believed that what I was doing in practice and on the bench was contributing to the overall success of the team.
In my high school program, we do the same. Every player has a role that is essential to the team. Including the manager, assistants, and stat keepers.
Roles are fluid, and girls have goals, positions, and roles that they are working towards.
However, in that process, some players are faced with the reality that they did not earn a role or the amount of playing time that they were hoping for.
At any given point in a season, it is inevitable that a player is in this situation.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that there are two types of players that emerge when found in a position like this-not playing a role they wanted or not seeing the court as much as others.
Player A:
-Gives half-effort at practice
-Complains to other teammates
-Trash talks coaches
-Bad mouths teammates who play her desired role
-Disengaged on the bench
-Blames others for her mistakes
-Bad body language
-Doesn’t take coaching
-Overall energy suck from practice
Then…
Player B:
-Gives full effort at practice
-Asks for extra reps, practice time to improve
-Seeks feedback and asks for where she can get better
-Engaged on the bench
-Excited for teammates and team success
-Eye contact, head nod, sense of urgency when coached
-Accepts role, and works hard
-Makes practice better through her energy
See the difference?
You can imagine which player ultimately improves as an athlete and teammate, and which one doesn’t.
What’s amazing, is that these two athletes were dealt the same, exact news. They were in the same position. Fighting for a role, and hadn’t earned it yet.
One sees the adversity and folds, while the other embraces adversity and uses it to guide how she will respond.
Every day, we get to make a similar choice.
There is no doubt that we will experience challenges, roadblocks, and adversity at least once, every single day.
And in those moments, we have a choice.
Tommy Baker, in his book “The 1% Rule: How to fall in love with the process and achieve your wildest dreams” puts it this way:
“The path of least resistance is quite simple: recognize the adversity as feedback that we can’t accomplish what we want and fold. Or we can take the path few are willing to take-recognizing the adversity and ultimately using is as a catalyst for the next step.”
I can tell you from experience that Player B will achieve greatness every time.
And I don’t mean that she will get exactly what she wants in terms of playing time. That may, or may not happen.
Regardless, she has chosen to embrace the adversity, recognize it, and use it as a launching pad to work harder, longer, and with a greater attitude and work ethic.
Our response to adversity reveals the same thing about us.
You either achieve greatness, or you don’t.
It’s all in how we respond.
#FiercelyOptimistic
#DaringlyResilient
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