SK posted this picture that one of her former players sent her, and it spoke to me. Not only is it one of my pet peeves, I think it can be broken down into other aspects of how you go about your life.
From the obvious standpoint: Just touch the line. One extra step won’t kill you, you’re already running.
Moving on: Respect the task at hand. The guys who touch the line have the awareness of what it takes to not only win but to succeed. Even if they take longer getting to that line, they are not cutting corners. Their honesty and commitment of completing the task is fulfilled.
As for the guy who is cheating himself and his team, all of UMass women’s lax would be glaring at him from down the line. When our team is running, if anyone false starts before the whistle or does not touch the line, we have to do extra sprints. This player, whether he realizes it or not, is creating more work for his teammates- and I am not referring to the extra running. He is creating more work in the bigger scheme of things. When that effort is needed and, count. If he is cheating now while he is surrounded by teammates, who is going to hold him accountable when he is alone? It is up to you to create high standards and ensure you put in the discipline needed to win. What we don’t give in the times we are preparing, will not be perfected for the moment we need it. Whether that be a game, competition, test, business meeting, you name it it can be applied all over.
That little length the player missed the yellow line can translate into little ways he goes about other things in life too. Vince Lombardi once said, “There is only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give everything. I do, and I demand that my players do. Any man's finest hour is when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.” This has been one of my favorite quotes to try to live by. To me, it speaks way beyond success in a sport, business, or in school. I see the “field of battle” as life, as succeeding as an individual. If you want to be successful, you need to apply for yourself. It takes more than just the bare minimum to get by. Everyone can get by, it takes hard work and passion for standing out. When most people hear the word success, their mind immediately goes to business or profession. Whether it be how successful someone is, how much money are they making, etc., it is just the way the world has conditioned our minds to think. The way I see success is more of a state of being. To be successful is to be so content with who you are, what you do, and how you treat others that you don’t have time to think of failure. It isn’t an option. Because even when you fail, (which will happen a 954 more times than you succeed) you grow. There is always a silver lining that comes from it. Character builds from each experience, even if that means finishing out your sprints 100%. Eventually at the end of the day, the guys who touch that yellow line will end up lapping the ones who don’t.
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