While your child might not be the most gifted athlete on the field, there is one place where he or she can not only match teammates, but even exceed them. Specifically, I am talking about how every child, regardless of talent or skill, can give 100% effort and hustle every time out. Running on every play, quickly bouncing back from bad plays, and picking up teammates when they are down are examples of actions not tied exclusively to the top players on the team. And the best news? By hustling and giving effort your child’s chances for increases playing time increases dramatically — just ask any coach.
The first to practice & the last to leave
Want to make a great impression on your coaches and teammates? One easy way to do that is to put in the effort by being one of the first to arrive for each practice, and the last one to leave. In addition to being fully committed to becoming a better athlete, this kind of effort is often noticed and used by coaches to justify extra playing time. Over time, those extra rep’s can lead to rapid skill acquisition and mastery, leading to noticeable athletic improvement on the field.
Here again the effort, dedication, and commitment displayed by athletes is entirely dependent on their motivations, meaning it doesn’t matter how naturally talented an athlete is when it comes to putting in the work. Encourage kids to play with passion and energy, as these qualities can sometimes make up for lacking natural talent — especially in youth sports.
Watch “Charlie Hustle” if you want to learn about hustle
Legendary baseball player Pete Rose, even with his shortcomings, can teach us a lot about the meaning of hustle. Rose not only ran out every ball he hit, he even raced to first base immediately after being walked! If you’re looking for examples of hustle, sit down with your child and review old clips of Pete Rose going hard on every play in order to drive the point home (and don’t forget the head-first slides!). For even more of a lasting effect, compare Rose’s efforts to any number of players over the years who made it look painful for them to even walk onto the field because of laziness. Again, the decision to hustle or not is an individual choice — so choose wisely.
Final thoughts
Help your child develop vitally important life skills and lessons around the importance of playing hard, hustling, and giving 100% effort on every play. When you see these qualities (even if the results aren’t there), be sure to offer emphatic positive reinforcement and praise if you want your child to embrace the power of effort. Not every kid can be the most athletic, but every kid can make it a point to work hard and hustle every time out.
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