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Tips for high school and college athletes: Attitude

As an athlete, you know a great defense keeps the other side from scoring. A solid offense wins alot of points for the team. But, whether you play offense or defense, it is your attitude that packs the power.

If you have an offensive attitude, if you carry a grudge or bad temper rules your play, you are going to be one tense, anxious, testy person on the field and off. Belligerence leads to someone getting hurt, emotionally or physically....AND you are going to get back what you put out: Some pretty heavy negative words and actions. Not too cool.

If you have a defensive attitude, it ends up the same way: You will be testy with teammates and resist criticism. Your body is going to be tense, muscles tight, you will feel anxious, and you won't make such good decisions on the field.

With a negative attitude, you are way more inclined to get injured and you won't get the longterm results you want in your sport career, how ever long you want it to be.

How do you act with power on offense or defense?

The key is being at ease. This happens when you take care of your body and your mind and do your daily drills. When your body is prepared, your mind is calm and clear, and you practice hard every time you go out to the field, the result is feeling confident and empowered because you know you can play your part the best you can.

Take responsibility to be prepared to be your personal best. Leave your personal issues off the field and call me later. I am a trained to help you get through the challenges. Be at ease. Be enthusiastic. You will pack a punch on the field. The star player can't do it without you. You are part of a unit that is effective and powerful when you do your part.

There are a number of champion athletes you can look to for examples of right attitude. Peyton Manning is a great example of a great team player with a wonderful attitude.

The point is this: When you have mastered yourself, you don't have to be defensive or offensive. You are a true champion and a winner, whether the game is won or lost.

Dana Nellen is a performance enhancement specialist, assisting athletes to overcome physical, mental and life challenges that impact sports performance. Visit www.dananellen.com

How does an elite athlete stay motivated to excel?

You may be expecting a complex answer to this question but I am going to give you a very simple answer. When you truly love something, it is easy to focus consistently for a long time on attaining a lofty goal associated with it. When you love what you do, you love the journey. Karl Mecklenburg once shared with me that he was hard wired to love football. Consequently, he was able to overcome many obstacles over many years that would derail some of the toughest among us. Ultimately, Karl spent twelve years in the NFL.

Champion athletes don't get where they are because they turn around when they see an obstacle ahead. Love for what they do and love for the journey fuels the passion to overcome obstacles. For a champion, a big challenge simply feeds the fire to overcome it. This is because a champion athlete is always seeking to stretch the limits of possibility for themselves. So, the obstacle in front of them is another opportunity for going beyond perceived limitations. Of course, they will go for it.

This quality of rising to any challenge applies to a serious athlete dealing with failure. This motivation that is based upon love for what they do, sets a champion athlete apart from the rest of the field in Failure. If you have not already done so, listen to the interview with Federer after his final loss at the last US Open. Of course, he grieved. And with his next breath, he assessed the loss. He knew he gave his all and his best. He recognized what he needed to improve. He set his sights on the next competition. He fell, he observed, he learned, and he was determined to apply his understanding to clear the next hurdle. This is how an athlete maintains motivation to excel.

Lets face it: Love accomplishes all things.

How can an athlete come back from a slump?

How can an athlete make a comeback after a long period of failure?

Slumps happen. I worked with a baseball player who went through this situation. Baseball players know they will strike out about 70% of the time but when failure continues, it is time to make an adjustment. Here are 4 things you can do when you find yourself in a slump or losing streak:

1. Rest. I mean, really rest! Take a long nap. Ask for a whole day to sleep or take complete rest for a week if you can. Go for a long walk by the beach, in the woods or anywhere in nature. Even taking a walk in the city, you can notice the trees, water, birds and flowers or the color of the sky and the formations of clouds. Watch children playing. Listen to the sounds of life going on around you. Do something that will take your mind completely out of the game.

2. Get a fresh perspective. Ask someone who loves and supports you, no matter what, to look at your game and your overall situation. This person will have a unique perspective and can help you pinpoint what is bothering you and to see what you can adjust. A friend who is not in your sport can be an excellent sleuth. If you don't have a friend like this, call me! I am a professional life coach and will support you to overcome obstacles and reach your goals. Above all, walk away from critical people, no matter who they are, who offer negative opinions.

3. Count your blessings. Enthusiasm comes from gratitude. I once watched a group of professional athletes dragging and moping on the field. It was just before their season and I was so surprised that I asked one of them why he was in this state when an exciting new season was about to begin. His excuse was, it was a Sunday. The town he was in was boring. His team never made the playoffs. Practice gratitude. Say thank you for all your blessings. Enthusiasm comes from gratitude.

4. Shift your attention from beating yourself up or putting yourself down to simply observing the situation. Ask, How did I bring this about? Take time. Really listen to what comes up. Then ask, What one thing can I do today to start getting me where I do want to be? Gail Devers overcame Graves disease, baby step by baby step, to continue pursuing her Olympic dreams. In 2007, at age 40, she won the 60 m hurdles at the Millrose Games. It was the best time in the world that season!

Dana Nellen is a performance specialist, yoga coach and life coach, with 35 years experience, assisting athletes and elite performers to achieve champion performance without drugs or steroids.