Dear athlete,
I get it. You are tired. You are worn out. You may even be burnt out. And it's getting hot outside. You are getting tanlines that seem impossible to get rid of. You are tired of spending every day doing the same drills. Your schoolwork is piling up.
You and your team may have suffered some gut-wrenching losses this year. Some of your teammates may have gone down with an injury. You and your team are so over sandwiches on the road and the seven-hour bus rides to and from conference games.
But THIS is the time when it is the most important. NOW is the time that you have been practicing so hard for.
Remember that this season of your life doesn't last forever. Play each game like it's your last, you never know when it may be.
You are now in the heat of the season. The most important, yet the most memorable experiences of this year lie ahead of you. Yes, it is getting mundane; yes, it is getting repetitive... But here are some reminders going into the home stretch:
Visualize your goal. Another conference championship, winning that big playoff game, making it to the World Series. It seems so close that you can smell the sweat dripping down your face and you can hear the roar of the crowds as you and your teammates lift up that championship trophy.
Continue to get a little better every single day. If you improve your skill 1% each day, exponential growth will happen. Continue to form habits of improvement and positivity and encourage your teammates to do the same.
Thrive in the role that you are in. Your role -- whether it be the starting pitcher or the loudest dugout cheerleader -- is absolutely essential to the success of the team. Continue to push your teammates to be better. Continue to cheer for them. If you don't start every game, breathe motivation down the starter's neck. If you do start, do not let your backup catch up to you. Continue to grow where you are.
Freshmen, you are nearing the end of your first year. It's gone by way too quickly, hasn't it? Absorb it and soak it all in. Playoffs are like no other. Learn the pace of these games and recognize the ways in which you can contribute to your team's success both on and off the field.
Sophomores, you are nearly halfway done. Be prepared to take the lead as upperclassmen next year while continuing to sharpen your skill and be confident in your abilities.
Juniors, you are almost seniors. Play like one. Play, lead, and be confident through your experience.
Seniors, this is it. It can be tough to think of it all ending, but let that serve as motivation to finish the season stronger than you started it, and make it your strongest season thus far. Set the precedent for the younger players to continue the standards set by you and your program. But do not let the season close without giving it every ounce that you have left in your body. This game has given you so much, give it the respect it deserves by playing with everything that you have.
See the bigger picture. Ultimately, you play to win. Win that championship. Put your name and your team in the record books. Make the seniors come back to campus to pick up their championship rings.
But most of all, remember your love for the game. Remember why you play.
So keep pushing. Push harder everyday. That championship is just around the corner.
