Playing a sport means competition, in several different aspects. The primary competition is always internal, between you and the limits of your potential. In this sense, your opponent is superfluous and exists only as a source to elicit greater effort and more success, from you. However, human nature in the form of competitiveness does not exist in a vacuum, and the external opponent cannot be ignored forever. When this happens, and the focus switches to your opponent as either a single entity and/or as an overall component of a team, most competitors experience a surge of primal energy and a pronounced burst of motivation.
For instance, in basketball, most often you are matched with an opponent whom you guard, and who guards you. Every play, at its essence, boils down to who is better, in that moment, within the framework of the team and the limitations of the game (the occurrences outside your control). I.e., did you fool him with a fake and get open, even if you did not receive a pass? Did you deny him the ball and force his team to look elsewhere? Did you anticipate a shot and secure an inside position as the ball was in the air, even though there was no rebound? Did you out-hustle him downcourt? Did you congratulate a teammate while he sulked and pouted? There are many ways to compete, on every play - turn every nuance into a competition, and be victorious!
Legendary champion chess competitor Bobby Fischer spent a lifetime searching for the ultimate competition. He was once asked what he liked most about chess. A usual, typical answer from a peer often invoked the conventional, internal view of 'it challenges my mind.' Fischer answered with an external motivator, as visceral an answer as you can find: "The look on my opponent's face when he knows it's over and there's nothing he can do about it."
When the competition shifts to your external opponent, strive to get "The Look" on his face.
For instance, in basketball, most often you are matched with an opponent whom you guard, and who guards you. Every play, at its essence, boils down to who is better, in that moment, within the framework of the team and the limitations of the game (the occurrences outside your control). I.e., did you fool him with a fake and get open, even if you did not receive a pass? Did you deny him the ball and force his team to look elsewhere? Did you anticipate a shot and secure an inside position as the ball was in the air, even though there was no rebound? Did you out-hustle him downcourt? Did you congratulate a teammate while he sulked and pouted? There are many ways to compete, on every play - turn every nuance into a competition, and be victorious!
Legendary champion chess competitor Bobby Fischer spent a lifetime searching for the ultimate competition. He was once asked what he liked most about chess. A usual, typical answer from a peer often invoked the conventional, internal view of 'it challenges my mind.' Fischer answered with an external motivator, as visceral an answer as you can find: "The look on my opponent's face when he knows it's over and there's nothing he can do about it."
When the competition shifts to your external opponent, strive to get "The Look" on his face.
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