It’s January. The holiday break is over, the high school season is getting ready to start, and you’re feeling that "New Year, New Me" energy.
For the competitive athlete, this time of year is exhilarating. The possibilities are endless. The dreams are big. You can hear it around the cage and see it on social media:
- "This year, I’m making varsity."
- "This is the year I hit .400, with 15 tanks."
- "My resolution is to get recruited."
These are fantastic goals. They provide you direction and fire. However, here is what most athletes discover by mid-February: Motivation is only a temporary spark.
When you have to wake up before the sun for a cold morning workout, or when the stress of school inevitably shows up, or the social pressure sets in, and you’re feeling exhausted, that new year, new you “hype” disappears. If relying on willpower is your strategy for achieving your resolution, you will burn out.
Elite athletes don’t have the best resolutions, they have the best systems.
If you want to reach your potential this year, stop focusing on the finish line and instead start developing the tools that will get you there.
The Resolution Trap
A New Year’s resolution is typically an outcome. It’s the "what."
- The "What": "I want to be a stronger hitter this season."
The problem is that you have the least control over the outcome. You can’t wake up tomorrow and just "be a stronger hitter." If you focus only on the outcome, it is like scoreboard watching.
The scoreboard doesn't win games. Competing one pitch at a time wins the game.
The Championship System
If the resolution is the "what," the system is the "how."
Systems are the reliable, repeatable processes that when performed consistently, create the blueprint for your championship life. A system removes the reliance for constant willpower because the decisions are already made.
For a young athlete, it’s difficult balancing academics, social life, and practice…decision fatigue is real. Every time you have to ask yourself, "Should I pack something healthy or just grab a snack from the vending machine?" or "Should I stretch now or scroll TikTok?", this drains your mental battery.
A championship system automates the elite choice.
Built By Habits
Your championship system is built out of habits. Habits are small, automatic behaviors repeated consistently.
- Resolution: Be a stronger hitter.
- System: My daily cage/tee work, strength & fuel protocol, mental training
- Habits: 50 focused swings on a tee daily; drinking a protein shake after finishing a hitting session; daily journaling/reflection.
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, famously wrote: "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."
For a competitive athlete, this is a differentiator. Talent might get you noticed, but systems and habits create the consistency required to reach your potential.
If you're an athlete, coach, or parent and want help building your own “Championship System” this year, and want to practice this skill in a personalized way, or need general athlete support as they improve their performance and well-being, let me know.
To explore how Coach Jeff’s approach might benefit your athlete's development, please complete the contact form on the Mental Performance page →