DG Warriors Character TraitS of a High Level Athlete

From Brad Bresee and Jim Crotty, regional college scouts with National Scouting Report

Character Trait 1“BELIEVE” 

Believing means that you are confident that somebody or something is worthwhile and effective.  True team players have strong faith in themselves and their teammates.  Belief that you can rely on a teammate to make a play or be there in a time of need is trust that is earned, not given.  Do your teammates believe and trust in you also?  Do you believe that you can succeed in the game of basketball and life?

“Faith is to believe in things that we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see in what we believe.” – Author Unknown

Character Trait 2"INTEGRITY"

Having integrity is being "whole" or "complete". You become a person, and athlete, of integrity by learning and adhering to good moral principles and character values. Being a person of integrity means your substance (inside stuff) means more to you than your image, like what sneakers you wear, how you dress, what music you listen to and how popular you are. As an athlete, this includes winning and losing with class, striving for excellence instead of settling for mediocrity and training yourself to do what is good and right on and off the court. In the end, your game and life are in balance and healthy.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Character Trait 3"MENTAL TOUGHNESS"

Being mentally tough as a person and as an athlete means you can remain under control and focused under the pressure of everyday challenges.  Setting short-term and long-term goals gives you a direction to mentally focus on achievement and success.  Remaining resilient, poised and in control is necessary as you work to meet your goals.  As an athlete, not breaking under pressure and not getting frustrated when your team needs you the most is an important characteristic to possess.  In everyday life, do you remain focused on your school work and long-term goals and stay tough mentally when the going gets tough?  Can your family, friends and teammates count on you to be there mentally in crunch time?

Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Bill Russell said, “Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory.”