5 Things Disciplined Athletes Do

Commit to the Process

Disciplined athletes recognize nothing great can be accomplished without committing to the process of getting better. They also recognize growth happens in small increments and it’s the small increments over time that produce greatness. The key part is understanding this process takes time. It’s not a one-week or one-month solution. Small growth in many different areas over time, produces the greatness athletes desire.

It is important to identify specific areas where one could improve. For example, getting more sleep will help an athlete increase their rest, recovery, and game-day performance. Our 1% exercise helps athletes identify several areas in their life where increased discipline will produce great results.

Manage Emotions

Learning how to manage emotions is critical to an athlete’s success. Feelings of anger, frustration, annoyance, and discouragement are natural human emotions. We want our athletes to know they can feel and express these emotions around their team. It’s important they become aware of when and why they are experiencing these emotions. The goal is for athletes to understand these emotions are natural but they can’t live in them.

Disciplined athletes are able to manage negative emotions and prevent feelings of anger, frustration, and annoyance from spreading to their teammates. They develop a level of conviction where they are able to recognize their behavior is not normal, and they develop strategies to run away from negativity quickly. A great way to teach athletes how to manage emotions is through our 40 Red Dash exercise.

Seek Constant Improvement

Odds are you’re probably reading this blog from your smartphone. Despite the amazing technology these devices are created with, they still require regular updates. Similar to the updates on our phones, we need “updates” to ourselves. The majority of athletes aren’t in need of a complete makeover. However, they greatly benefit from small, simple updates on a regular basis.

Athletes with a high level of discipline are able to look within themselves and find areas of self-improvement that would dramatically improve their performance. They seek feedback from teammates and coaches on how to improve. Disciplined athletes cast a vision for what they want to see in the future, and develop a plan to get there. In Lead ‘Em Up we teach this process through the exercise, Software Update.

Become Better Prepared

Athletes with a level of high discipline understand the need to prepare so that when their number is called, they are ready to perform. They don’t rely on others to get them ready, they have the ability to get ready and stay ready. These athletes are also aware of their engagement. They understand the need to lock in during practices so they can perform at their best on game day.

Our athletes’ level of preparation is revealed when the lights come on. Disciplined athletes are ready to shine because they know they’ve put in the work to succeed. Great teams have sustained levels of high success because they are filled with disciplined athletes who are consistently prepared to perform at a high level. Our exercise, Movie Script, is a great resource to teach the importance of preparation.

Look for Leadership Opportunities

Disciplined athletes are constantly looking for leadership opportunities. They realize leadership opportunities are all around them; every single day. Practices present many leadership opportunities for players, but only disciplined athletes look for them. Players who lack discipline will wait for a coach or teammate to address leadership opportunities.

Taking initiative is something that becomes a habit for disciplined athletes. The more an athlete takes initiative, the more their confidence grows. As their confidence grows they will begin seeking out more leadership opportunities and stepping up when those opportunities are present. Our Beat the Coach exercise is an excellent resource to help your athletes look for leadership opportunities.

Remember, the best athletes are the most disciplined athletes.

Maryland’s South River High School Teams Are Thriving with Lead ‘Em Up

South River teams are thriving with Lead ‘Em Up, building leadership, unity, and a winning culture on and off the field.

Quince Orchard’s Commitment to Leadership and Culture

Quince Orchard High School thrives with leadership training, building a culture of teamwork, accountability, and success through Lead ‘Em Up.

Podcasts

Athlete’s Path to Leadership Mastery – Teach It Until It Sticks

We’ve all shared this idea, “What am I going to do next year? I taught that already?” Teaching the same concept more than once and wondering if it’s even landing is a valid thought. But here’s the truth: many coaches suffer from the leadership theory of going shallow on many, and deep on a few, as a result, athletes may never experience the depths of leadership mastery. In this episode, we examine the develop vs. introduce dynamic while exploring the process of evolution through one’s ability to focus on a single concept. We’ll break down the 5 levels of proficiency that will help you ignite your athlete’s path to becoming an elite player-led team. The need to keep going deeper into the Lead ‘Em Up teachings isn’t just necessary, it’s a huge part of leadership proficiency. If you’ve ever been in doubt about repeating a concept, this episode will remind you why it matters and how to make every repetition count.

Bruised But Still in Charge: How to Approach Leadership When You Are Injured – The Green Room Episode 2

What happens when the leader gets hurt physically? In this episode, we explore the challenges and opportunities of leading while injured. From maintaining credibility and presence to adapting your leadership style, we’ll unpack the secret strategies for staying effective, authentic, and resilient in the face of personal setbacks. Whether you’re sidelined temporarily or navigating a long recovery, this conversation offers real talk and practical insights for showing up as a leader, even when you’re bruised, you’re still in charge!

Watch the full video here