“Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory.”
– Bill Russell, Boston Celtics, 11-time NBA Champion
Redefining Impossible
When it comes to improvement, there are barriers that have to be overcome. The barrier is built by both your inadequate level of confidence and the external information you’ve acquired over time that has sapped your enthusiasm to do something special.
“Can’t be done,” you’ve heard. “You’re just not capable,” people tell you. “A waste of time trying,” you tell yourself. “That’s not possible,” you’re told.
How Objective Data Changed UNC Women’s Soccer Player-Coach Dynamic
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There are 28 different categories for which a women’s soccer player at the University of North Carolina receives a score – every day, in practice and in games.
It’s part of an effort by head coach Anson Dorrance to develop what he has labeled a “competitive cauldron,” a developmental environment which encourages – even demands – competition between teammates.
“The main thrust of the competitive cauldron is to drive competition in practice,” says Dorrance, who has led the Tar Heels to 21 NCAA Championships and was the architect of the U.S. Women’s National team program. “If everyone knows that every part of practice is recorded, we are going to get a greater focus and a more competitive spirit to try to win at every aspect of practice.