Support

No succesful athlete gained that success on their own. It may not have been their parents, or their family, but someone gave them the support they needed to keep trying. I have been blessed with great family, friends, coaches, and teachers who really want to see me succeed. I've come to realize this more and more as I get older. I realize how much impact people had on me, by realizing how much impact I have on the kids I coach. People have always looked out for me and helped me get back on the path that will lead to my best success. I play on the field with a relentless will. I love the game, and I have had the coaches that have nurtured that passion I have and made me a pretty good athlete. A lot of people have a lot of talent, not all of them have the support, and it's sad that those guys or girls rarely become successful.
If you have any athletes in your life, make sure you give them support. That doesn't mean give them a ton of breaks and let them slide through life. It means give them the love they need, even if it's tough love sometimes. That makes them better at everything they do, when people are honest. It's worked with me so far.