No matter where we live, there will always be distractions. Sometimes the distractions are our own; these can be academic challenges, family problems or personal relationships with others. Sometimes they are school issues, or at other times they may community or even national issues. Sometimes, of course, these distractions are not just distractions, but are serious problems that must be faced and worked through. Does the Code say anything about this? The Code says “I will make my best effort…” “I will be a positive influence…” and “I will place team goals ahead of personal goals…””I will conduct myself with honor…” These tenets all call upon us to develop the discipline of focus. It is a challenge to “keep our heads when all about us are losing theirs” to paraphrase Kipling. It requires focus. It does not mean that we do not also focus on these other things at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way, but it does mean that we learn to focus our minds on the task at hand, and to give our best effort to do that. Are there distractions affecting the performance of you or your team? What possible ways can you learn to focus, or encourage others to learn to focus on the tasks at hand? How do your prepare yourself mentally for each practice? … for each game?
Distractions, Focus, and the Code
October 19, 2017
