News

IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (4/22/25)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

One of the biggest psychological challenges in athletics is being able to move on to the next play (bounce back) and put a negative play or experience behind you.

There was no greater example of this than in last week's Masters Golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia.  Rory McIlroy had more ups and downs than a jack-in-the-box.  Throughout the tournament, Rory was faced with bouncing back, and in the end, it took a tremendous birdy on the first playoff hole to secure his first Master's championship.  

Whether you are a baseball/softball player that has gone 0-3 and get a hit in your fourth at bat, a swimmer or track athlete who has lost three straight races, or a basketball player that has missed five shots in a row, how do you bounce back? To be honest, there is no single or simple answer.

The more you go through the trials like I described above, the more you can fall back on your previous experiences.  No athlete plays a perfect game or match.  It is how you respond when things are not going your way that separates the good ones from the great ones.

Focus, determination, and practice will always be the ingredients you can fall back on to help you along the way!  

All content property of Billy Shepherd Sports