Wednesday, December 23, 2015
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
This quote was said by High School Basketball Coach Tim Notke, someone whose job it was to evaluate talent and push his players to reach their goals.
While coaches will sometimes get lucky and have a player or two who possess raw natural athleticism, coaches at CAL Sports Academy are often pressed to find the hidden gems.
At CAL Sports, a player’s mental qualities are just as important, if not more, than their natural ability.
“We start with looking at the overall skill, IQ, talent, mental mindset, passion for the game, and decision making. We’re really trying to figure out if we can strengthen the kid,” Coach Corey said. “Can they handle criticism? How are their grades in school? Can they handle pressure?”
CAL Sports coaches take pride in developing players. By listening to their needs and paying attention to the player’s strengths and weaknesses, coaches are able to incorporate certain drills into practice based on the player and team’s needs.
“As a coach I love a challenge. I wasn’t always blessed to have the most talented players or the most talented team. Talented or not, every player works at each practice. I focus on repetition of good, old-fashioned fundamentals, so regardless of the outcome of a game or a season, every player leaves with various life lessons and an appreciation for Strength, Commitment, Motivation, Determination and Teamwork,” Coach Corey said.
Oftentimes, a player might not be the right fit for a certain team at that particular time, but that doesn’t mean they should give up. If they are committed to the game and work with their coaches, they can build their skills throughout the year to maybe increase their chance of achieving their ultimate goal.
If a player is willing to put in the effort and hard work, they don’t have to be the next Lebron to be considered a winner.
Read more from our Path to Success Blog.