Imagine that you are hanging from the edge of a cliff with a drop of twenty thousand feet. The only thing between you and an fall to your death is a rope, with the person of your choice on the other end. Who do you know that has the guts to pull you to safety? Who will hold the rope? Who do you know that is going to let that rope burn his hand and not let go? How many people that you know are going to withstand the burning pain and watch the blood drip from their hands for you?
If you can name two people, that's not good enough, because those two people might not be around. The next time your team is together, look around and ask yourself, "Who could I trust to hold the rope? Who is going to let their hands bleed for me?" When you can look at every member on your team and say to yourself that they all would hold the rope, you are destined to win a lot of ball games. You see, the team that holds the rope when the going gets tough are winners. When you are down by four points with thirty seconds to go, don't give up. Yell at your teammates to "hold the rope -- let it burn but don't let go!"
Every year there are winners and losers in all sports. Every year the winners hold the rope. You don't have to have the best team on the field to win the game. If you play with poise and do what we ask of you, and most of all -- hold the rope -- you will be successful. No matter what sport you play, in order to win, you have to have a commitment to your team. If you are supposed to run three times per week, do it. If you have to lift weights three times per week, don't miss. Once you start letting up at practice or start missing your workouts, you've killed the team because
The following sheets will be updated with players names who are involved in the summer lifting and running program. "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to is." Vince Lombardi, master motivator and the guru of winning in the NFL, said this once in response to a question about a loss. He knew that victory was not always in control of the coach or players, but the will and want to win was. If players refuse to lose, they seldom will. It starts in the weight room. Ask yourself this as a player- "If I met an athlete who spent his summer working hard, living right, and getting better, would I deserve to beat him?" If not, start working now, so when you meet this player next fall you will deserve to beat him, because you have worked harder.
How will we do in June?
We did not require any lifting days for a couple of weeks after the end of school. Why? Because we knew you needed to catch your breath, gather your thoughts, and renew your enthusiasm after a grueling school year. We hope you used those weeks wisely. For the rest of the summer don't do anything to jeopardize yourself or this season. Relax, enjoy your friends, and enjoy a great summer of workouts and learning.
Overall Lifting Toward 22 days
Attendance 2008 Lifting NBHS