How We Should Be Communicating With An Athlete | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

How We Should Be Communicating With An Athlete

The struggle of being an athlete with no honest expectations.

5
How We Should Be Communicating With An Athlete
SBI

I am an athlete. I have defined myself in this way ever since I can remember. Being an athlete is a privilege that I will never take for granted, but it does not come without frustration. I have battled injuries and teammates and coaches every step of the way. The injuries have always gotten better, and I have left behind the teammates who were too selfish, but for some reason, there has never been a season without frustration. For some reason, I never know exactly what is expected of me.

This problem can be boiled down to two reasons: I expect more out of myself than anyone else ever will, and sometimes coaches struggle to share their expectations with their athletes. The first reason I will never be able to escape, but I hope to someday escape the second.

Every coach I have had has been different, and amazing, but for some reason, they have all struggled with the same things. None of them have ever been able to tell me exactly what they want me to do. They have never given me an exact plan. It's always very vague, and usually ends with "if you're feeling like you can". My biggest problem with this statement is that it gives me room to make excuses and room to ignore my expectations for myself. It doesn't demand me to perform.

I can understand why coaches are hesitant to give an athlete high expectations. We are our own form of crazy, and we do not know how to fail. But, when you don't give us room to fail, then you aren't giving us room to grow. I would much rather give everything that I have and fall short than to give half of what I have and meet the expectations. I think that every athlete feels similar to myself. I mean, we wouldn't do what we do if we didn't love to push ourselves past the point of exhaustion.

I wish that coaches would be 100 percent honest with their athletes about what they expect and that athletes were one hundred percent honest to their coaches about what they expect from themselves. If both people gave their honest opinion, then I think that athletics would be pushed to an even higher level. Open and honest communication is the only way that a team is going to be the best it can be, and unfortunately, that communication must start with the coaches.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
friends

Here you will find a list of many of the people you will come across in your life, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to give a name to all these characters that you hopefully see day to day. Don't take these friends for granted because they all add a little something to your life, and if you can't name all of them to your personal friends, chances are it might be you...

Keep Reading...Show less
gossip girl

On the Upper East Side, Blair Waldorf is an icon. She's what every girl aspires to be. She's beautiful, confident, and can handle any obstacle that life throws at her. Sure, she may just be a television character. But for me, she's a role model and theres a lot that can be learned from Queen B.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Perks of Being a Girl

“I just want you to know that you’re very special… and the only reason I’m telling you is that I don’t know if anyone else ever has.”

983
girl

As frustrating and annoying as it can be, being a girl is really awesome. We are beautiful inside and out. Not a lot of people may see that, but girls have a ton of amazing qualities.

We have unique flirting skills.

Us girls have a significant way to flirt with other people. Even when we say the most random or awkward things, we have a way of making everything sound cute and planned. It’s just a gift; we’re good like that.

Keep Reading...Show less
gossip girl

Us college students know all about the struggle of spending the day in the library. Whether you are writing a ten-page paper, studying for a biology exam, or struggling through math homework, you somehow find the strength to get to the library to get it all done. Let's just say you have a lot of different thoughts that run through your head during the many hours you spend in the lovely library.

Keep Reading...Show less
female tv characters
We Heart It

Over the past decade, television has undergone a very crucial transition: the incorporation of female lead characters. Since it's a known fact that girls actually do run the world (Beyonce said so herself), it's time for the leading ladies of the small screen to get some credit. Without these characters, women would still be sitting in the background of our favorite shows. These women are not only trailblazers for female empowerment, but role models for women worldwide. With that, here are 15 of the smartest, sassiest ladies gracing our screens that remind us that women do, indeed, rule:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments