Why is Practice so Crucial?

HEY CARDINALS NATION!

Welcome to our Athletics Department Newsletter. By subscribing, you will get any and all information about Concordia Athletics sent straight to your inbox every week. These will be going out every Monday.

Here’s what to expect in today’s newsletter:

• Blog

• Verse of the Day

• Quote of the Day

• Weekly Recap

• Upcoming Events

• Read Time: ~ 5 minutes

🔨 BLOG

WHY IS PRACTICE SO CRUCIAL?

The adage "practice makes perfect" is a well-worn phrase for a reason: it’s true. While perfection is an unattainable goal, consistent practice is undoubtedly the path to improvement.

But why is practice so crucial?

1. Skill development: Repetition reinforces muscle memory and neural pathways, leading to more efficient and automatic execution of skills. As John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, said: "It's not what you do,but how you do it." This quote emphasizes the importance of deliberate practice, where you focus on quality repetitions rather than just going through the motions. Mindful practice allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the mechanics and nuances of a skill, which will ultimately lead to better performance.

2. Confidence building: As you master new techniques or strategies, your confidence grows, allowing you to perform better under pressure. Nick Saban is known for his saying: "There are two pains in life: the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Which one do you want?" This quote highlights the importance of pushing yourself outside your comfort zone during practice. By facing challenges and overcoming them, you build the confidence and mental toughness to succeed in competitive situations.

3. Consistency: Regular practice helps you maintain a high level of performance and avoid plateaus. Consistency is the key to unlocking your full potential. By establishing a consistent practice routine, you create a foundation for sustained improvement.

4. Mistake correction: Practice provides opportunities to identify and correct mistakes, leading to better decision-making. It's not about who you play, it's about who you are. By focusing on the fundamentals and making adjustments on what you can control during practice, you can develop the ability to self-correct and make better decisions.

5. Mental toughness: Overcoming challenges during practice builds resilience and mental fortitude, essential for athletes. Wooden believed that "Discipline yourself, and others won't need to." Many coaches love to make practices harder than games. That’s because the mental toughness that can be developed in hard circumstances can shine when the moment requires it.

As a coach, I love practice. It’s where we can focus on us! It’s where athletes grow and learn. It’s where mistakes can be made. None of us are perfect, but the conditions of a good practice setting can get us that much closer to achieving excellence.

— Coach T

💭 QUOTE OF THE DAY

💬 VERSE OF THE DAY

📣 ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNDER ARMOUR + WOMEN OF WILL PARTNERSHIP

Cardinal Athletics is proud to announce that we have entered into a partnership agreement with BSN SPORTS, the nation's largest direct marketer and distributor of sporting goods to the school and league markets and a division of Varsity Brands, and Under Armour through their co- sponsored Women of Will (WoW) Program. The uniform and apparel agreement outfitting athletes and coaches in Under Armour gear will debut 2024, unlocking partnership benefits for the organization as members of the exclusive Women of Will Program, the first high school sponsorship program designed distinctly for women’s athletic programs.

Partnership benefits for the Cardinals Athletic Program include custom Women of Will branding and apparel packages, fanwear platforms, athlete leadership opportunities, social media exposure, Women of Will awards and branding designs through BSN SPORTS over the next 5 years.

"We are thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Concordia High School, who continue to establish their presence as a driving force in celebrating female athletes and supporting women's sports," said WoW National Account Manager Emmy Walton. "The Women of Will program was created in partnership with Under Armour to recognize the determination and ambition that female athletes bring to the playing field every day as they set new standards and blaze paths for women's athletics programs. By leveraging our scale and unmatched partnerships with a global brand like Under Armour, we have an opportunity to enhance the experience of the Concordia High School Cardinals athletes, coaches, and supporters through our extensive product selection, innovative team shop platforms, and dedicated service teams."

"Under Armour Women of Will aligns perfectly with our athletic department's commitment to building leaders who strive for excellence. By joining WoW, we're excited to elevate the performance of our female athletes while instilling the values of commitment, dedication, and perseverance.", said Athletic Director Tristan Winkelman.

DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR ELIGIBILITY FORMS IN?

Here's the checklist of it all: 

- TAPPS Physical 

- Medical History

- Signed CHS Handbook (located in Google Drive)

- Team Registration on Google Form (located in Google Drive)

- Student Transfer Form (if transfer student)

- Previous Athletic Participation Form (if transfer student)

‼️ UPCOMING EVENTS

🏅 LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT CARDINAL ATHLETICS?

If you are looking for more ways to follow along and support our athletes, here are a few more things we do:

1. Interested in Sponsoring an Edition of our Newsletter? Shoot an email to our athletic director [email protected] and he will point you in the right direction!

2. Follow us on Social Media. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates throughout the season @ConcordiaHS_ATH.

PLEASE SEND ANY ATHLETIC PICTURES TO [email protected] TO BE INCLUDED IN SOCIAL MEDIA!

I pray that your day is full of reminders of God’s love and faithfulness. May you faithfully build your life on Christ.

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

To God be the glory,

Coach T