A new series of instructional videos is being uploaded to this site and will debut soon. These are each short, intense clips that demonstrate in real time the concepts, skills, drills and effort that are required to reveal the character of a champion. The brevity of the videos is intentional. 

There are many possible paths to become a champion, and these videos illustrate one possible path. This path may, or may not, be yours - the sooner you experiment with the concepts, skills, drills and effort on your own, the better. The benefit is not in watching; the benefit is in doing. Spend minimal time watching; spend maximal time performing and adjusting and customizing these skills and drills to best fit your own needs as a player and as a person.

Take what is beneficial from these videos and discard the rest. Make certain to spend more time performing and less time watching. These videos are an introduction and an invitation to you: tear yourself away from the video screen and get on a field and compete! 

A new school year began this week. Every classroom features 2 general kinds of students. First, the champion. A champion dominates on every field of competition, and looks at each class and each subject and each assignment as an opportunity to compete. His real and only competition is within - did I measure up to my potential? A "yes" answer, regardless of assigned grade or Bell curve or comparison to peers, is a victory and needs celebrated!

The other type of student hates competition. He wants to slink into class late, unprepared, and unnoticed. This kind of student is a cheater. Oh, he may not copy off others or use crib sheets during tests. But he's cheating himself, which is even worse. A cheater deprives himself an opportunity to demonstrate his greatness, and in the avoidance of that challenge a cheater deprives his school and his community and his world his ultimate potential. Even an "A" student is defined as a cheater if he fails to give his maximum effort. 

Don't cheat, be a champion!

No matter when he awakens, by the time he rolls out of bed and his feet hit the floor, a champion attacks his day. The moment to prepare is right now, this very second. Whether he is working on his mindset (take an ice-cold shower and train the mind to resist the sensations of the body) or whether he is preparing his physiology (eat a hearty breakfast with the appropriate and necessary fuel to power through the day in an optimal state) or whether he is priming his intellect (determine the mission-critical points of the history class lesson later in the day), as examples, a champion is always moving forward and advancing toward his potential.

Never wait. There will never be a better time than right now. Whatever it is, whatever you must do, do it and do it now. Champions use every second of their precious life, and treat every second as another opportunity to demonstrate their greatness. Now, or never. The choice is yours.

The world and its demands can seem overwhelming, especially to an athlete struggling with adversity and the resultant disappointment and frustration. It is tempting, and common, to succumb to the pressure by slacking and lessening and reducing effort, commitment, and focus. This response is a recipe for failure and guarantees an early end to an athlete's career. 

The antidote? When pressure is at its utmost, when failure seems inevitable and despair is a foregone conclusion, welcome these feelings that everyone else interprets as negative. You were born with the capacity to handle any challenge, so seek adversity. If life gives you lemons, ask for more! 

Pray to your Creator, although never ask Him to lighten the load. Instead, ask for greater challenges and greater tests. Revel in the tough, bask in the difficult, and thrive when everyone around you wilts. Conquer a tough task, and the next challenge won't seem as daunting. Face your fear of the difficult, and wade into the deep waters of despair that send everyone else scurrying for the shore of ease. Swim into the wave; fight the uphill battle; greet each challenge as another chance to demonstrate your greatness! Be strong, and ask for more.