The road to NFL success is longer, more difficult and holds more pitfalls than any other professional sport. To simply get to a point where one can seriously consider playing for the NFL requires great effort and success on several levels: high school and college. It is a violent and unforgiving sport that weeds out those unable or unwilling to compete at the necessary level. Collegiate excellence is only a beginning in the process that culminates with making an NFL team.
After a successful career in school a potential NFL prospect is faced with the daunting prospect of training for the combine or a ‘pro day.’ Both of these events consist of a gamut of tests aimed to measure athleticism and physical prowess. Supposing an athlete performs well is actually signed by a team, he must then pass further, more subjective, tests in mini-camps and training camps. Knowing simply this, one might think that athletic and NFL success is a matter of physical fitness and strength. This is partly true, as great strength of body is required, but that is merely the superficial side of the journey; the fruit of the true labor underneath. Garnering and then applying the physical requirements necessary to become an NFL player demands magnificent mental might and unwavering willpower.
The mind of a successful NFL athlete must begin with a need…
NEED: Stronger than desire, the elite athlete is empowered by an ardent need to excel and, ultimately, succeed. It is this need that forms the cohesive bedrock upon which the athlete will construct his mental strength and commitment.
COMMITMENT: All successful athletes possess an unyielding commitment to their sports, their bodies and themselves. These men and women are committed to maintaining a healthy body and obtaining excellence in their sports in order to secure success. More importantly, however, they are committed to themselves. A need without commitment is a body without the legs to propel it.
FOCUS: A committed athlete with a lack of focus fails to achieve. The elite athlete must gain and maintain a strict focus upon his or her strengths and weaknesses, as well as long and short-term goals. Foremost amongst al l these things, however, the athlete must never lose focus on his or her dream. An athlete without focus lacks the guidance necessary to navigate the path to his or her ultimate dream. Successful athletes write down goals and look at them before bed each night and again each morning before attacking the day.
DREAM: All the physical fortitude and mental muscle in the world amounts to nothing without a dream. Need, commitment and focus must be pointed at an ultimate goal: A dream. It does not matter what the dream might be, so long as it is there. Without a dream the athlete floats ineffectively into failure.
Those athletes that possess the necessary mental tools are the ones that will achieve NFL success. The proper mental approach eliminates any possibility for failure, as the elite athlete is mentally mature enough to realize that success comes in many forms. The athlete also realizes that each day when they train it is not only for themselves, but for their loved ones, family, friends, coaches and fans who believe in them want to see them achieve greatness. If an athlete truly embraces all of the above the sky is the limit. I wish best in success to all those who are reaching higher every day.
Yours In Health,
Brian Martin
Founder & CEO
TEST Sports Clubs
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