Taking knocks…

In Ultimate we all take knocks from time to time. More often than not the knocks are physical, a dodgy ankle, a gamee knee or god forbid a shitty shoulder injury. But that’s not the type of knock that I’m talking about. Every now and then someone (usually someone important) will make a comment about your game that really hits a nerve. For some uber-confident players I’m sure this never happens but for those like me, acutely aware of their weaknesses and probably a little too eager for praise, a single, well-placed comment can make you feel like your whole game is being undermined.

In Ultimate, like in all sports confidence is paramount. When you step out onto the pitch you need the confidence to know that you can dominate your match-up, the confidence to know you can break the mark. If in sport you don’t believe you can do something, then you’re probably not going to be able to do it when it counts. And I suppose this is why it feels so rubbish when someone you admire tells you that you can’t really do something that you yourself feel is fundamental. That confidence can evaporate like a drop of ethanol in the Sahara.

The sort of comment I’m talking about is not constructive criticism in the traditional sense. Of course it is essential that every player can take criticism. As I’ve found out coaching ‘Thrown’ over the last year some people can take it better than others. What I’ve found works well is to make criticisms one at a time, providing advice in an attempt to fix the problems as you go along. The sort of criticism I’m talking about stings, it makes you question yourself over and over – it makes you think about giving it all up because, basically, ‘I’m shit’.

I suppose what is important in these situations is to take a step back and really think about the criticism, and also to think about the good things about your game. Take stock and think about the changes you are going to make. Seek good advice, and work hard to improve. Then when the time comes, at a try-out or in big match, you can show that actually, your not that shit after all.