Before the crowd cheers, commitment speaks. 

As a season approaches, athletes are often focused on playing time, winning, and personal success as the key to making a memorable season. For a coach, success begins way before the first game. Success is based on effort, mindset, and dedication to the team. This is how athletes can show how strong they are coming into a plentiful season. 

One of the biggest expectations from coaches is participation. According to wrestling coach Jeffery Buck, being present in the program matters. From summer weights to winter workouts, involvement shows coaches you are dedicated and builds team chemistry. “There is nobody who is above others,” said Buck. “ We need to have that team chemistry, that family chemistry… There’s no ‘I’ in team.”

Coaches also prioritize a mental approach. For softball coach Caley Mitchell, athletes perform at their best when they focus on the process rather than the outcome. “The best mindset you can have as an athlete is process-oriented and not outcome,” says Mitchell. She explains that athletes are not in control of results, such as striking out, but what they can control is how they respond to failure. It’s important to know that, as an athlete, you have to learn from your mistakes to grow. 

It’s hard to remember that behind every coach is a person investing their personal time to enrich a thriving team. Football and girls’ golf coach, Jason Jajczk, says coaches do what they do because they care. “The sacrifice we all have from our families, from our jobs, from our personal lives to dedicate to kids is a big deal,” said Jajczk. For many coaches, the impact of sports goes way beyond on-field. “Football saved my life twice, and being able to work with kids is a big deal to me.” 

Trust the process. For girls’ lacrosse coach, Blake Macklin, buying into the system is essential for team success. “The reason why we are doing things is always team-oriented, and it is always for the best of the team,” Macklin said. Shared commitment is what gets teams to their long-term goals, like winning a state championship.

Finally, coachability and accountability are above all. Girls basketball coach Tammi Statewright believes that the best athletes are ones who take responsibility and continue to work hard no matter the circumstance. “Being coachable, being accountable, accepting your wrongs, stepping up when you know you didn’t do well,” said Statewright. “Those are the best people. I mean, they’re coachable.”

In the end, a sports season is not remembered by final scores, but for the habits built, the trust earned, and the growth you make as a person that lasts far beyond a season.