Continuing with Developing Your Potential

· The ability to make your teammates better- Determine for yourself how you can make your teammates more effective in practices and games. Communication and positive encouragement is one way. Giving your teammate a properly weighted pass to control is another way. Try to make your partner look good even if he/she gives you a bad pass. As a defender, cover for a teammate when they make a mistake and work hard to make all your teammates feel that you are working with them and for them.
· The ability to make an impact on the game- does the game change when you enter or leave the field ? Does the team elevate their level of play when you’re on the field? Hopefully, it changes for the better. Can you help with the rhythm of the game, playing fast when need be and slowing things down when that tactic is required?
· Coachability- Is this player coachable? College coaches want to know this to make life easier for them. Coaches want players to listen and learn. When a coach stops play for corrections do you listen or do you roll your eyes-sometimes the corrections are for the entire team and sometimes for you individually. Repetition is a tool for learning and, sometimes, it isn’t the most fun, however, repetition is what is needed for growth and development and to reach maximum potential. The player who listens, absorbs, and tries to please is the person who plays. The uncoachable player sits and never develops.
· Being a winner- This is a constant. It means being first class in all you do, whether in the competitive arena or the classroom. You should be playing as hard in the game regardless of the score. An impact player raises their game when the going is difficult. And tries to make everyone else better at the most critical times.
· Summary- I have given you some food for thought. Now that you know what college coaches are looking for, it is up to you to develop these abilities in yourself, your player, and your child. Spend the next year working on these and the path to your goals will be much clearer. Players should constantly be asking their coaches for feedback on their strengths, weaknesses, and how to improve their game. My challenge to you is simple: develop one noticeable part in each of the above six areas. It will make you a more valuable player, make your future rosier, and make us a much better program.