For those who are familiar with the term, especially recently, it's the Olympic motto of "Swifter, Higher, Stronger" If you stop to take a moment to think about it, it applies to our Spike Frog athletes as well. Everyone has a standard they to which they wish to excel. No one likes being left behind, especially when it comes to picking teams. We have heard numerous success and failure stories this fall from Middle School and High School tryouts. The majority of our athletes are playing this fall and having a great time on their school teams. We hear of your successes and see evidence of it on the court.

So what's the difference between those who "make" the team and those who don't? Is it genetics--height or speed? Is it talent? Opportunity? Politics? Favorites?

I am fortunate enough to be able to spend time in a NCAA Division III volleyball gym this fall. I spend about 8-12 hours per week there. I've watched the athletes in the gym and thought to myself, "What sets them apart from their friends who played alongside them in High School or Middle School?" So I ask them questions about their background. Over and over again, I get the same answer.

WORK

These athletes have been given a good work ethic by their parents, their grandparents, their coaches and their teachers. They've been pushed by great people. Mentors. People with abilities to get more out of the athlete than she thought she could. They ALL have a favorite coach. They ALL have someone who pushed them, a teammate, a friend, a parent, a coach, a mentor...someone who helped them see beyond the finish line.

And then they got in the gym and worked. There simply is no substitute for purposeful, deliberate practice. Not if you want to be the best.

How does that apply to Citius, Altius, Fortius? Let me tell you a story...

Last season, I was given the opportunity to coach a group of 15 year old girls who wanted to compete around the state against other volleyball teams, commonly referred to as "club" volleyball. These were some of the best Freshman in the area. As individuals, they were not spectacular athletic specimens and there were always teams with more athletic abilities. When we had our first practice, they had just finished their HS programs, each with a different "gym culture." We shook that up a bit and took it to another level. As coaches we pushed, we prodded, we shoved, we pulled and we worked those players sometimes beyond levels they thought they could reach. We spoke to them every practice about being Swifter, Higher and Stronger. We asked for their goals and then reset their vision. Higher, much higher.

And then we proceeded to coach them the best we knew how. Our first rule was "Anything Less Than Your Best is Unacceptable" and we held them accountable for their effort--not their outcome. This was a bit of a mind shift for many of them, but we promised them that mistakes were ok and expected, but not giving your best was simply not an option. We had tough practices with a lot of sweat and floor burns, but at the end of those practices, we went home smiling and satisfied that we'd given our all.

By the end of the season, we were winning more than we were losing and doing surprisingly well. The girls bonded through hard work, determination and sheer effort. It required showing up to practice ready to give their best.

Our girls are doing quite well this High School season and we couldn't be prouder of them. Success comes from working hard--simply put. Work in practice and you will eventually see the results on the court.

So push yourself as an athlete, as a coach, as a parent. Remember there is no other way you can achieve your goals without purposeful, deliberate practice. Hard work pays off and hopefully you are seeing the results in your life already!