The Next Generation of Athletes

Articles across the web talk about the next generation of young adults expecting life to just hand them opportunities and success stories.  This generation expects to walk in the door and be considered awesome.  They have no push or drive to get better.  Why should they?  They are fine with the status quo because they've been taught that if they just wait, someone will hand it to them.

The next generation of athletes isn't much different from the general population.  They've been told how awesome they are and handed awards just for showing up.  Consequently the next-gen athletes exhibit an attitude of superiority where they don't feel the need to even try to better themselves.  They cannot handle when a coach tells them they need to push themselves.  They cannot handle when they are told their attitude sucks and needs an adjustment.  Even the slightest push and blow to their glass-ego sends them off the deep-end thanks to the mean ol' coach expecting them to do more than just be present.

There are a few things that my next-gen athletes and all athletes need to know.

• I can't hand you.....a better performance.  I can give you the tools you need to improve your performance and be successful.  It's up to you to use them and earn that better performance.  

• I can't hand you.....effort.  This lands squarely on your shoulders.  Your results have a direct relationship with the amount of effort you put in.  This goes for anything you do in life.

• I can't hand you....personal responsibility.  Ultimately your performance and well-being is in your hands alone.  Again I can give you the tools but only you can use them.

• I can't hand you.....a different body.  We're all put together a little different.  Wishing you had someone else's body will get you nowhere.  You can however strive to make the best of your body.

• I can't hand you.....a win every time.  Without failure, there is no success.  If you have not been humbled by a loss or failure then you have not set the bar high enough.

• I can't hand you....elite athlete status.  It is ridiculous to expect to do in one year what it has taken an elite athlete the last 10 years to develop.  There is no shortcut for this one, put in the work.

I am certain there are more things that can't be handed to these next-gen athletes.  Some times it's a rude awakening  for them to not only be expected to achieve certain marks but to actually be pushed towards those expectations.  Next-gen athletes can't expect to be better just because they showed up.  Attendance does not improve performance, real effort does.  They need to learn that being okay with the status quo is to be okay with mediocrity and coaches aren't looking for mediocrity.

True success comes from setting the bar high and really putting in true effort to get there. Once that bar has been reached, it's time to set it even higher.  It is up to each and every individual to hold themselves accountable for achieving their own maximal potential.  It's not just something that can be handed to them.