I had a conversation with someone the other day talking about what separates the good from the great athletes.  You see a lot of people out there with similar athletic abilities, but what really separates someone like Michael Jordan from just another basketball player that can leap high and hit a jumper?  They always say with golfers there is a fine line between the top pros and their athletic ability, it is what is above the neck that separates them.

Let’s start with what separates a mediocre athlete from a good athlete.  I think this can be boiled down to strictly athletic ability.  There are a lot of athletes out there that have mediocre ability, but just work their a$$ off to be the best possible.  You then have some athletes that have better athletic ability and when they put the work in, will just be better athletes then those mediocre ones.

But, you also have the better athletic ability people who just walk out and play.  They don’t prepare, they slack in practice, but they have such great athleticism that no matter how hard the mediocre athlete tries to improve, they will never be a better athlete than this person.

It stinks, but that is the hard line truth.

Now we just finished up with the Olympics.  It is probably safe to say that all these Olympians are really great athletes.  But, what separates them from the good athletes who didn’t make the Olympic team?

I think in this case it is more of a combination of things.  First, is athletic ability.  Some people are just truly blessed.  Second, is their work ethic.  All these people shooting for the Olympics are putting the extra work in.  Third is a desire.  These people want to do well in their particular sport.  This is their life dream.  Finally, the other is luck.  In a sport such as track that has time trials, it is just dumb luck that Ryan Wilson, a hurdler I know, was in position to make the Olympic team until he clipped a hurdle, then he doesn’t make it.

Just think of the work these Olympians put in.  The swimmers, the runners, the gymnasts, all put in countless hours.  They could quit at any time, but they have that desire to be great.  They have that singular focus to make that Olympic team and win a medal.  That is amazing to me.  It’s been so long since I practiced for any sports, I couldn’t fathom putting in all those hours to be good at your sport.  They can.

Now let’s take a look at the normal athletes I work with – young age up to and through college.

I would guess that out of all the athletes that I worked with who played collegiately, more than half, close to 60%, did not play their sport all 4 years of their college career.  Why is that?  There are a myriad of reasons, but ultimately it boils down to the fact that they lost their desire to play the game they loved for so long.

That loss came from losing playing time, not being “the man” anymore, better athletes around them, etc.  Whatever the reason, their desire diminished.  Does that mean they weren’t great?  They might not have reached the pinnacle of their chosen sport, but they played to the best of their ability.

Could they have gotten to greatness if the desire hadn’t left them?  Maybe, but greatness is a combination of things and chances are they wouldn’t have the athletic ability to get there.

The high school athletes I see have an opportunity not to be greatest of all time in their sport.  But, the greatest that their ability will allow.  Some really want to be good.  They spend the extra time practicing, working hard, trying to correct weaknesses, and not settling for what they’ve already accomplished.

Other athletes I’ve worked with don’t.  They treat hard work like an allergic reaction.  They don’t realize that someone out there is better than them.   Someone out there is trying to steal their spot on the team, steal their starting position, or steal their scholarship offer.  They don’t understand that their parents are making financial sacrifices to get them the help that they need to be the best athlete possible.  They view this extra training like detention and don’t put forth their best effort.  They waste my time and their parents money.

Then they wonder why they don’t get the playing time they feel they deserve.  Why their time hasn’t dropped?  Why the college opportunities are fading?

I know that not everyone can accomplish a starting spot, a college scholarship, or a professional offer.  But, I know the surest way not to get those things.  Don’t put forth any effort to better yourself and try!!  Leave it all on the table for Pete’s sake, so that if things don’t work out all you can say is, “I did everything in my power and sometimes it just isn’t good enough.”  It might not make you a great athlete, but in the end it will make you a great person for it.