3 Keys to Success

Posted By: Todd Durkin

The other day, I was on the field with several NFL players for a throwing session in preparation for training camp and this upcoming season. On this particular day, we had 3 NFL quarterbacks with a sprinkling of wide-outs, tight-ends, and running backs. We had about 30 other college and high school players to assist us with our passing drills. By tradition, at the end of the session, our pro guys will share a “Tip of the Day” for success for our younger athletes. There were 3 “Tips of the Day” that stood out to me this week that I thought were worthy of sharing with you:

• Preparation.

If you want to be successful in sports, you must prepare. You prepare by living in the weight-room, spending time running and conditioning for your particular sport, and doing the “little things” it takes to be successful. This includes getting your rest & sleep, eating well, avoiding “off the field” distractions that could hinder your progress, and surrounding yourself with friends and teammates that support you positively. While it is easy to say you want to be good, are you willing to make the sacrifices and commitment it takes to truly get to the next level?

• Practice & play with a purpose.

Make sure every time that you do show up to the weight room or on the field, that you focus on 1 or 2 things that you want to accomplish for the day. Drew Brees, QB of the New Orleans Saints, talked about that if you want to be great, you must not only work on your game, but you must also be “mentally present” at all times. He went on to say, “You can’t just aimlessly go through your drills. Every rep counts, every lift counts, every sprint counts…Be sure to keep your concentration and focus on getting 1% better every day.”

• Finish!

One of the emphases is for our athletes to “finish” plays until the whistle blows. For example, we want our wide receivers to catch the ball, make up a move, and run downfield. Jeff Garcia, QB of the Oakland Raiders, spoke about his time with Jerry Rice when they played together with the 49ers. Garcia said that in practice, Jerry Rice used to run down the field 60-70 yards after each and every catch to get in the habit of making big plays and finishing them. I think it worked! Develop good habits now in all that you do as habits will translate into big success on game-day.

My friends, NOW is time to make sure you are preparing to have a successful upcoming season. Spend time preparing today, make every practice and lifting session count, and do the little things it takes to accomplish what you desire. There is no time like now to start building for your championship season. Get after it, have some fun, and seize every opportunity you have to get 1% better today!