There are a couple of really big things that separate exceptional and elite level athletes from average and mediocre athletes. After coaching for about 15 years it can be said that there are a few really distinct common characteristics when it comes to looking at athletes who achieve at the highest levels versus athletes that settle for less than their best. This is the way their find their competitive edge and their willingness to keep improving.
Of course there are many athletes that have a distinct advantage in terms of genetic and mental abilities. There is nothing a small athlete can do about getting bigger because every athlete has some type of limitation no matter how good they are. However, this list speaks to the common threads witnessed in many athletes who work on being the best possible player they can be over the course of their career.
1. Ability to Change and Be Coached
The best athletes that perform at the highest level can take criticism, comments and coaching then apply it instantly to their game to make themselves better. They recognize the person working with them is trying to make them better and they take their feedback in the spirit in which it was intended (no matter the tone). These athletes have a way of making the words the coach has used come alive. They also take it a step further and ask follow up questions if they need further clarification on what is needed. They don’t get defensive, they don’t get their back up, and if the coach is wrong they accept it and move on. Once they have put the new skill into practice they then commit it to memory and it quickly becomes part of their game.
2. Desire to Compete
This one is probably the most obvious in terms of taking a look at athletes and seeing them stand out from a far. Athletes that have the edge do whatever they can to win and if they lose they are still doing their best and giving it their all. In short they come to compete. They simply refuse to quit and inspire others on their team to rise up as well by making them better. This can be done through a great pass or holding them accountable by making a comment at the right time. Every single coach wants an athlete that can compete and even when they are down these players consistently continue to fight back until they have nothing left.
3. Attention to Details
Exceptional athletes have the ability to learn while taking into consideration the details involved in the instruction they are receiving. They don’t cut corners and can be compulsive in terms of the way they learn. They have the ability to take what the coach says and put it directly into practice with a very high degree of precision. They remember what the coach has said even from one session to the next and due to this they get better faster. They also see what their teammates are doing and help put that standard measurement into practice on a consistent basis. All of these items are used to their advantage to separate themselves.
4. Willingness to Make Sacrifices
The road to greatness definitely has its obstacles and challenges. There is a desire to be available and be part of the process. In order to achieve their personal best there are often a lot of sacrifices that need to be made over a long period of time. To be an elite athlete you have to get your priorities straight and this may include everything from not spending as much time with family and friends to missing out on vacation and other important events. It takes time, effort and the willingness to make sacrifices in order to continue to get better but they understand it is just part of their process to get where they are going long term.
6. Work Smart not just Hard
Elite athletes understand that time is limited. They don’t waste time doing silly things when they are putting in work. They make a plan and execute the steps within that plan. They don’t lull themselves into the false sense of security thinking because they showed up to put in work it means they are better off than those that didn’t come. These individuals are striving to achieve their personal greatness and as such they are using their time and resources wisely. Attendance simply isn’t enough to indicate that enough was done. In their minds the results and the precision in which they executed while they were putting in the work is what matters most to them. If they show up to a gym they don't just show to put in time. They have a plan in terms of what they want to work on.
6. Ability to Find Solutions Instead of Excuses
So many average and mediocre athletes really find a way to make excuses and explain away why they were unable to succeed. The best athletes find a way to take challenging and sometimes impossible circumstances and turn them around. Their team is down and the special athlete lights the match to spark the team to go in the right direction and change the tide of the game. They don’t make excuses for themselves and when they encounter defeat they find a way to learn the lessons to keep moving forward. When it happens it is such and exciting thing to see. That is what makes them special.
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