Do you find value in questions?
How’s your soccer career going?
Is it going well and will you achieve your goals?
Do you think you have room for improvements?
If you were to pick one area to improve, what would it be?
Would you commit to it?
Would you even write it down?
The path less traveled has been mapped out for you, will you explore it?
Why don’t you train?
Could it be laziness or fear?
Could it be lack of faith or motivation?
Do you need a wake up call or a gentle kick in the balls?
Have you surrendered to the status quo?
Will you be just another statistic or will you rise to dizzy heights and newfound stardom?
What’s that?
Are you sure?
I’ve never heard that excuse before did you make it up?
In the past 2 months how many hours have you committed to training?
That’s what I thought; did you expect a different result?
Have you heard the saying, no pain no gain?
You have?
How is watching television painful?
What excuse have you conjured up today?
Do you find comfort in excuses?
Do you think your goals are realistic?
Of course everyone wants to play in the Premiership, who doesn’t?
Have you written your goals down?
Have you scheduled extra training sessions?
Are you paying the price?
Do you honestly think you’re going to make it if you don’t put in?
You don’t?
Then why the long face?
Surely you’re not surprised?
What’s that?
Sounds like another excuse doesn’t it?
Can you hear that?
Tick, tick, tick, it sounds like your running out of time, do you have any questions before I leave?
“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”
You have to be cruel to be kind sometimes. Asking questions like the above can really bring it home to your players that ultimately they are in control of their own destiny. At least to a greater extent than they thought.
Thank you for this – a reminder for me also!
Gday Howard, thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment. PhD in Sports Physiology, very impressive.
Are you still involved with Crystal Palace and Reading or are you just working with the University now?
Thomas
Cheers for your words!
I have previously held full time positions at those two clubs, most recently CPFC in the academy – so I find this resource especially relevant! Great experience.
I finished working with them at the end of last year and am now preparing for my move to the US. I will be doing consultancy for the Center of Excellence with teams of various levels – a large youth academy, an NCAA D1 men’s team, and also a D2 pro team so will happily be keeping my hand in – and keeping me busy. I like that!
I am lucky to study for that PhD – it is the first of its kind in America (although there are some similar programs in the UK and elsewhere). We are trying to set an example for others to follow – sport in the US needs help from the bottom to the top (just as anywhere). Keep an eye on our progress – it will take a lot of work but I think is worth it. It is rare to find somewhere with good people and an organizational goal that matches yours.
I have your site on my RSS so you will hear more from me!
Take care,
Howard