As a sports psychologist, the first time I speak to an athlete, coach, or team I ask them: “What is it about the sport you love? What keeps you coming back?” To me this is an essential question, it tells me about their motivation and how they see their sport whilst allowing me to identify their satisfaction and enjoyment levels. I believe you can never overlook or stray away from the essential reason why you play sport and what you love about it, simply because it plays a crucial role in forming the basis of any sporting identity.
Today, I was inspired to consider this very topic. I read a blog by Julie Foudy, former World Cup and Olympic Medal Winner for the U.S. National Soccer Team. She constructed a list of “Why she loves sport.” It reminded me that as a sport psychologist I must also always keep what it is I love about sport too clear in my mind and close to my heart.
So here’s my list...
● The exhilaration of success against the anguish of defeat
● The sounds of the game: The crack of a ball hitting a bat, the swish as a ball goes through a net, the thwack of a racket as it smacks a ball, the whistle to signal the start of a race, the squeak of sneakers on the gym floor
● The tension in the pit of my stomach during a close game
● The relief of the final whistle, the last out, the last point
● The excitement of seeing the “big” players, the heroes of the game
● The pride that washes over when I hear my national anthem played
● Examples of true sportsmanship and character building moments
● Songs and music that immediately inspire, such as “we are the champions”
● Underdogs, superstitions, and rivalries
● Sports movies, like “A League of their Own”, “Coach Carter”, or “Field of Dreams”
● The smells: popcorn and hot dogs, sweaty locker rooms, freshly cut grass, leather from a new glove
● The cheers, the chants, and the songs
● The feeling of exhaustion after a intense workout and the euphoria of pushing past my previous limits
● The camaraderie of teammates, a second family
● Leading a team and the pride that comes with it
● The chance to travel the country and the world, experience different cultures, traditions, and athletes
● The way it brings people, schools, communities, towns, countries together
● The long hours working towards a dream and the feeling of accomplishment when its reached
● What it’s like to take chances and swing for the fences
● Learning to deal with and overcome adversity
● There is nothing else like it
By Kat Longshore 2011
So now I ask you, the reader: What’s on your list?
What do you love about sports?
We’d love to hear what’s on your list so share it by leaving a comment!
To read Julie Foudy’s List go to: http://espn.go.com/espnw/blog/_/post/6296129/julie-foudy-sports-love-feeds-soul
Intriguing question as it points to reason(s) why we dedicate so much time in our lives to achieving mastery in a sport. What's the fundamental motivation? What is it about a sport that is so powerful that compels you to sacrifice so much to be great at it?
ReplyDeleteFor me, it is the sensation of racket on ball. Creating that moment of perfection when I hit the sweet spot on the strings and the ball does exactly what I intended. This goal is far beyond the love of competition, camaraderie and the other reasons on your list.