Champions Never Apologize

Apologies are necessary in certain situations.  Like when a fault or offense is committed.  The person who committed the fault ought to acknowledge the wrong action by expressing regret or asking forgiveness. 

But should an error on the playing field be considered a fault or offense?  No.  It is an amoral action and therefore needs no apology.  (As long as the error is not a result of laziness or a lousy attitude.)

When it comes to executing a particular athletic skill, a champion never apologizes for making an error.  He never utters the word “sorry” for overthrowing a ball, tripping on the track or missing a shot. 

Likewise, he never apologizes for performing well.  “Sorry” is not a part of his language when he hits a line drive, serves the winning point or crosses the finish line first.

Because apologetic language in competitive situations is a symptom of a weak mindset.

If an athlete is apologizing for performance-based mistakes, his mind still thinks that mistakes are a bad thing.  So instead of focusing his thoughts on the actions he performed that caused him to overthrow that ball (and what he needs to do to correct it next time), he’s focusing on the excuse.

He’s excusing his error as a morally wrong action that needs to be forgiven by his teammates and coaches.  He’s confusing good manners with good athleticism.

And if he’s apologizing for doing well and winning, he lacks the confidence necessary to be a champion.  By apologizing, he’s not allowing his mind to register the fact he just executed a skill well.  And that he should be proud of his success.  Because he earned it.

He’s worried others may not like him because he was successful.  Instead of building confidence by building on his successes, he tears himself down with that potent word used out of context: sorry.

Train your ears to listen to the language your athletes are using.  For their language betrays their thoughts. 

When they apologize in the context of competition, don’t soothe them by accepting their apology.  On the contrary, you should ask them why they are apologizing.  Demand an answer that goes beyond the shrugging of the shoulders.

Make them think about what they are saying.  In so doing, you make them think about what they are thinking.