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An Athlete's Pride
I’m a high school player. I’m a team player. I play with my friends and with some of my enemies, but I respect everyone when it comes to my sport. I know I’m not going to get a multi-million dollar contract to play professionally. I know I may not even get my name in the paper. I play for the love of the game. For the pride and honor, for the blood, sweat and tears it takes to make the team, to earn the spot, to win the game. I play because I can, I play because I know that my life would be empty without the sport I play. I would have a lack of everything my sport gives me…integrity, courage, talent, fearlessness, pride, strength, stamina, will, and the heart of a champion. If I didn’t play, I would lose a part of me.
I’m an athlete. I’m a girl. I’m a champion, not because my team always wins, but because when we don’t, we learn from our mistakes. We try to fix them and most of all because we have fun. I have built lifelong friendships and memories because of my being an athlete. I leave everything on the field or court and continue to push myself. I am never happy with second place, but I have learned to accept it. I have learned to get over and through my anger and be the athlete and player I have always dream of being.
I don’t play for my parents, for my family, for my friends; I don’t play for my coach or my teachers or my school. I play for myself, but when I’m playing I represent them. It isn’t about winning or losing, but I hate to lose. I won’t settle for a tie, and I am satisfied with 100%. To play, you have to sacrifice everything, your body, your time, your sweat, blood, and tears, everything… for your team.
I am a player, and athlete and a champion, not because I know what it is like to win, but because I know what it is like to lose. I know what it is like to feel the anger and pain that comes along with “second best”. I have been that girl with tears in her eyes, walking out to receive the second place trophy and clapping as the other team, my opponents, receive the first place one. In know what it is like to lose, to win, to want to quit, to want to cry, to not want to get up. I know what is like to hear the cheers and yells for you. I know what it is like to feel the pressure of everyone on your shoulders, and I know what is like to choke under that pressure. I know what it means to be an athlete, a true player, and that is why I play.
I AM AN ATHLETE, A CHAMPION, A TRUE PLAYER”
Saturday, March 18
Persistence
Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. -Calvin Coolidge
Thursday, March 9
Quality...
The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.
-Vincent T. Lombardi
Wednesday, February 7
...the Slow Falling to the Quick
Although there are many styles, they all depend on the strong beating the weak and the slow falling to the quick. These are not related to the power that must be learned.
Taiji Classics
Champions...
"Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, month and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character."
-T. Alan
Shortcuts...
"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."
Beverly Sills
Memories made...
"Scars heal, glory fades, and all we're left with are the memories made. Pain hurts, but only for a minute, yeah life is short, so go on and live it."
-Megan Rose Leighliter/Heath
If it's to be...
If it's to be, it's up to me! Shoot for the moon and if you miss you'll land in the stars.
If it's to be it's up to me!
The future of the program is YOU! What should YOU be doing in the off seasons?
(For more information, see the "Off-Season Conditioning" section or call Steve W. 303-734-9782)
1. It all depends at what level you expect to play the game.
2. Experience counts and it can't be gained without sacrifice. The elite players from Creek and Kent have played for several years and train all year. Some of our players have trained off-sesaon for several years as well, and their stick skills are obvious.
3. Speed CAN be learned and improved. Don't believe the old adage that "You can't teach speed." Team speed can be one of our best assets, but not unless every player commits.
4. You have to play with players better than yourself to get better. Choose high level camps and put your ego aside.
5. You have two hands! Learn to use them both well, and the elite level players will stop taking advantage of your weak side. If you have a strong side and weak side, you need more stick work! Period!
6. Don't wait for someone else to motivate for you! Put together a small-sided team for any tournament you can find.
Copyright 2005: Heritage-Littleton Girls' Lacrosse
Those Actually in the Arena...
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
-Theodore Roosevelt, April 23, 1910
