Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success hangs above my desk. A signed copy of his pyramid hangs in my living room. Wooden books are intertwined in my library of sport psychology books. My wife and kids see Wooden books sitting on the coffee table. I want to live out John Wooden’s pyramid and I believe it’s an essential tool for any old or young athlete because his pyramid is built on timeless principles and values.
Before you can lead (with mental toughness), you must be able to lead yourself (with mental toughness). A coach has to first be mentally tough before he can expect his team to be the same. Planning, preparation, practice, and performance...the keys to execution (Wooden & Jamison, 2005).
Your own example counts first and the …show more content…
Without discussing every detail his pyramid, I have included several key characteristics in this discussion that highly contribute, in my opinion, to building and strengthening mental toughness.
Initiative is the courage to make decisions and take action when needed. An athlete must learn from failure. It enables them to avoid repeating mistakes. Through adversity, we grow stronger and become better people, said Coach Wooden. He emphasized to learn from mistakes and he wanted to avoid conservative practices. Wooden wanted to push his athletes against the walls of their capabilities. If not doing this, he felt they were not practicing correctly (Wooden & Carty, 2005).
Wooden believed that athletes should not be afraid to fail in acting when action was needed and he believed that athletes must act knowing that they, at times, we're going to fail (Wooden & Carty, 2005).
Intentness is the ability to resist temptation and to avoid rabbit trail distractions. An intent person stays on course and goes the distance. They concentrate on the objectives with determination, stamina, and resolve. It is a quality that will not permit them to quit, even when the goal was going to take a while to accomplish (Wooden & Carty, …show more content…
He said that when we face adversity, we become stronger. As we become stronger, we should expand our goals (Wooden & Carty, 2005). Coach Wooden believe that ambition was a desire to achieve noble and worthy goals with purpose. He didn’t want the goals to have an outcome focused on self. He also never attached one’s self-worth to winning. He just wanted everyone striving toward improvement (Wooden & Carty, 2005). Goals were considered worthwhile and wonderful because they stretched athletes and helped them strive to reach their potential; however, Wooden didn’t believe that goals had anything to do with determining success. He was concerned about effort versus the outcome of achieving a goal (Wooden & Carty, 2005). Seek satisfaction in effort. Success is found in the quality of effort. Championships are a by-product (Wooden & Jamison, 2005). Effort is hustle. It’s taking preparation to become more skilled and more capable (Vernacchia, McGuire, & Cook,
Before you can lead (with mental toughness), you must be able to lead yourself (with mental toughness). A coach has to first be mentally tough before he can expect his team to be the same. Planning, preparation, practice, and performance...the keys to execution (Wooden & Jamison, 2005).
Your own example counts first and the …show more content…
Without discussing every detail his pyramid, I have included several key characteristics in this discussion that highly contribute, in my opinion, to building and strengthening mental toughness.
Initiative is the courage to make decisions and take action when needed. An athlete must learn from failure. It enables them to avoid repeating mistakes. Through adversity, we grow stronger and become better people, said Coach Wooden. He emphasized to learn from mistakes and he wanted to avoid conservative practices. Wooden wanted to push his athletes against the walls of their capabilities. If not doing this, he felt they were not practicing correctly (Wooden & Carty, 2005).
Wooden believed that athletes should not be afraid to fail in acting when action was needed and he believed that athletes must act knowing that they, at times, we're going to fail (Wooden & Carty, 2005).
Intentness is the ability to resist temptation and to avoid rabbit trail distractions. An intent person stays on course and goes the distance. They concentrate on the objectives with determination, stamina, and resolve. It is a quality that will not permit them to quit, even when the goal was going to take a while to accomplish (Wooden & Carty, …show more content…
He said that when we face adversity, we become stronger. As we become stronger, we should expand our goals (Wooden & Carty, 2005). Coach Wooden believe that ambition was a desire to achieve noble and worthy goals with purpose. He didn’t want the goals to have an outcome focused on self. He also never attached one’s self-worth to winning. He just wanted everyone striving toward improvement (Wooden & Carty, 2005). Goals were considered worthwhile and wonderful because they stretched athletes and helped them strive to reach their potential; however, Wooden didn’t believe that goals had anything to do with determining success. He was concerned about effort versus the outcome of achieving a goal (Wooden & Carty, 2005). Seek satisfaction in effort. Success is found in the quality of effort. Championships are a by-product (Wooden & Jamison, 2005). Effort is hustle. It’s taking preparation to become more skilled and more capable (Vernacchia, McGuire, & Cook,