How to Become A Successful Athlete!!

Over the weekend I was thinking about how all athletes become great. This question as a coach can be the same thing how can one become a great coach, person, etc. This might be a shock for everyone but studying the basics is the key. What I mean is fundamentals build strength. If you develop the fundamentals in cycling, running, and swimming by focusing on the following:

Cycling:

• Pedaling technique
• Single leg pedaling drills
• Cadence
• Cornering
• Ascending/ Descending
• sprinting

Running:

• Running mechanics
• B drills
• Heel walk
• High toe walk
• High knee walk
• Karaoke
• Butt kicks
• Hamstring kick outs
• strides/pick ups

Swimming:

• swimming technique (perfect practice makes perfect)
• pulling drills
• kicking drills
• Eye closed drills (count your strokes for 1 lap) See if you match the strokes with eyes open
• Never do drills sloppy. Sloppy training = sloppy form

The reason I bring this up is have you ever studied great athletes. For example, Michael Jordan on of the all time greats in basketball. Before a game he would do 5,000 free throws just to make sure he was ready. Shaq, who is a great basketball player, but a lousy free throw shooter. So what did his coach do???? Made him practice free throws. John Wooden the famous UCLA basketball coach would have all his players focus on the fundamentals. Each week the would practice different drills until they got them right. Lance Armstrong before cancer was a good cyclist, but after cancer became a great cyclist. How did he do it by focusing on his pedaling technique. Do you see a pattern here. The key to becoming a successful athlete always going back to the basics and practicing the fundamentals of your sport.