Muhammad Ali - Performance & Preparation meets

Where does it all start. Where does it come from, what we see on the pitches, in the pool or in the boxing ring.

Muhammad Ali, Heavyweight Champion of the boxing world summed it up as follows:

"Before I get in the ring, I have already won or lost. The real part is won or lost somewhere far away from witnesses, behind the line, in the gym, out there on the road, long before I dance under those light."

How many coaches (and here I include myself) teach their athletes this concept or how many rather leave it to how they perform on the day and then criticise the athlete for poor performance? Are we preparing our athletes completly prior to the competition and acknowledge the fact that what we see in the game is a reflection of the training.

This I see time and time again with the athletes I have dealt with. Those that prepare well and prepare completely preform successfully. Those who don't fail. However if we are talking about proper preparation we need to make sure we are cover all the bases. This must include all components that make a sucessful athlete. This should include the physical, psychological / emotional & spiritual preparation. Neglecting one component leads to the potential for poor performance & then we should not be upset.

So remembering that 'I have won or lost' before I have even enter the ring or pool, places a totally different dynamic & perspective on my preparation and how performance meets up with preparation.

SB