Val Whiting 11-10-05
Are you in it?
As another sports season approaches this week, I only have one question. Are you in it? You know—gameshape. Did you put in the work? Well, that was two questions, but you get the picture.
There is no better feeling that first day of practice than your game being tight. On the flip side, it is horrible revelation to know that you did not work hard in the off-season. I know because I have been on both sides of the fence and believe me; the two scenarios not only affect your performance but your relationship with coaching staff and teammates.
I got a very rude awakening that first day of pre-season conditioning at Stanford. "Why are we meeting on the track, I thought this was basketball?" I said to myself. I better not had said that out loud.
I never thought of training for basketball, off the court. Our strength and conditioning coach mailed the team a very detailed summer conditioning program. However, I decided to do my own thing: playing basketball 24/7, no lifting, no sprints on the track, no cardio, no skill work etc.
That first day, I definitely made an impression on the coaching staff and more importantly my teammates. Now having the label of "out-of-shape" and slacker, I vowed never again.
Working hard in the off-season is how you show you care for your team. It does not begin the first day of practice. I remember winning a NCAA championship and one week later it was time for spring workouts.
"Get comfortable with it.", said the Stanford and Olympic swim coach to our team, in an after practice talk. You got to get comfortable with the idea of succeeding and your work ethic will follow.
Hopefully, you will never experience the embarrassment of getting lapped twice in a 2 mile run or performing a total of 20 push-ups in a test or being picked last in open gym because of your conditioning. Hopefully you are training and training smart.
Elite athletes spend more time training for their sports than actually playing their sports.
What makes you any different?
Val Whiting is an Ursuline Academy and Stanford University graduate who went on
to play in the WNBA
Val owns and operates GAMESHAPE, a personal training service located at 305 A
St. in Wilmington
For more information call 984-0664 or write info@valwhiting.com
www.valwhiting.com