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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (3/17/25)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

It is vital for student-athletes to understand and display a good attitude.  What does that look like?  It means listening to your coach or officials, communicating with teammates, and remaining engaged when/if you are not in the game/match.

This past weekend, I attended an AAU basketball tournament for junior high aged kids.  As a spectator, I cannot stress enough how easy it is to gauge the attitudes of the athletes by their behaviors on the court and on the bench.  One particular player stood out by sitting at the far end of the bench-away from his teammates, with a pout on his face and visibly disinterested since he was taken out of the game. 

Playing a sport outside of your school season requires a great deal of time, money and effort by the parents as well as the student-athletes.  The coaches are typically volunteers who are leading the team for the love of the game and to help their community.  

If you are playing a sport because you want to improve, I cannot stress enough how difficult it will be if you have a poor attitude.  If you are playing because you want to play at the next level, you are sabotaging your chances if you have a poor attitude. 

It is easy to have a good attitude when things are going well, but remember, others are watching when things are not going your way!

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