Through the years, I often reminded myself and the basketball teams I coached that we had to be aware of 'game slippage' and work to avoid it. The best way to explain 'game slippage' is that performance differential between practices and games. This differential is a reality, make no mistake; and it should be expected. Why? Consider the certainty that your game-opponent is putting a more talented five players on the floor to compete against than the second-best-five on your squad whom you go against each practice. Secondly, game slippage likely occurs because it is difficult to reach the level of game speed, intensity and atmosphere producing adrenaline in practice that teams face in games. If coaches and players stayed alert to this slippage-reality they have a chance to narrow that slippage gap.
My coaching approach to address game slippage began with three team practice demands: 1) Be on time, which suggests readiness and eagerness, 2) Pay attention with total focus and 3) Play as hard as you can or go home because this coach was not wasting time coaching effort or attitudes.
Many sport enthusiasts purport that sport prepares players for life. I don't think sport in and of its self can prepare the athlete for life but it is certainly one of several learning experiences that can prepare young people for challenges in life's journey. And 'life-slippage' is one challenge.
Life-slippage is realized near the end of one's journey when that individual takes inventory and has woulda-coulda-shoulda angst. The best way to avoid life-slippage is 1) hold no grudges, 2) share your journey's joys and sorrows, 3) embrace the generation on both sides of your tracks, 4) keep seeking to serve others, 5) when asking others, "How are you?", insist on details for it shows sincerity and compassion, which lifts another's feeling of worth, 6) Choose to live in 'hope' rather than 'fear,' and fianally, 7) stay engage with your talent(s) living gloriously in your blessings.
Remember, "Life 'is' a journey and 'not' a destination." Enjoy the moments!
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