MEETING 1: EVERYTHING

WELCOME

EVERYTHING YOU HAVE

Make teams consisting of two or three people. Give each team the task of creating a new game or sport based on only things they have available to them. Each team needs to come up with a name, rules, and equipment.

Designate a time limit and let them loose. Once the time limit is up, have each team briefly explain or demonstrate the game or sport they have created. Afterward, ask the group the following questions:

Q: What was the most frustrating part of this task?

• Working with limited resources
• Coming up with the perfect idea
• Following the instructions

Q: Have you recently felt this same sort of frustration in your life as a competitor, student, family member, or friend? Explain.

WARM-UP

NEVER ENOUGH

As competitors, it doesn’t matter how much you achieve or how well you are performing at any given time. There is always a desire to do more. Every workout, practice, and competition matters. It drives competitors closer to their goals.

Golfers crave lower scores. Batters strive for higher averages. Pitchers want more strikeouts. Quarterbacks aspire to throw more touchdowns. Teams work towards a better win-loss record.

But just like in the activity above, striving for perfection can be a frustrating experience at times. The most driven competitors can’t help but try to hit the mark, which warrants some difficult questions:

• Am I good enough?
• Do I have what it takes? What happens if I fail?

Q: What are some things you think you lack as a competitor?

Q: Which of the following emotions do you feel when you think about those things that you lack?

• Anger
• Depression
• Insecurity
• Inadequacy
• Frustration
• Sadness

Q: How do you usually respond to the realization that you may not have everything you need to reach your ideal level of success? Do you . . .

• Cry
• Fight harder
• Give up
• Pray
• Other