Teen Athletes – Compete, Don’t Compare!
Watching kids compete is one of the great joys of my life, not only my own kids, but teenagers in general. I know how important those lessons and experiences are as they grow into productive members of our community.
It takes a lot of guts to go out and compete, and I respect all sports, both team and individual.
My son competes in basketball, football, and powerlifting. Those sports are near and dear to my heart. But watching my daughters compete in competitive cheer is just as thrilling. I get the same level of pride because it’s not about the specific sport. It’s about the act of committing to something with a group of people, sharing a common goal, putting in the work at practice, and then stepping up to perform on “game day.”
Compete — Don’t Compare
As a coach and mentor to young athletes, I stress this above all: Compete! Compete as hard as you can and with all your abilities. But don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others.
That’s easier said than done. So many external factors influence an athlete’s success — size, speed, and God-given ability aren’t always in your control. Comparing yourself to a kid who’s bigger, faster, or more naturally gifted does you no good.
What you should take from your teammates, competitors, or pro athletes you admire isn’t their achievements, it’s the work they did to earn them. The early mornings. The practices. The training. Discipline. Nutrition.
Discipline and Reality
There are millions of kids across this country who work just as hard and are just as dedicated as many professional athletes. But most will never reach that same level of success or recognition, and that’s okay.
Discipline means getting knocked down and struggling without losing enthusiasm for the work and commitment you’ve made.
Think about all the high school offensive linemen out there who are 5’10” and 200 pounds. Many of them are unbelievably committed to being the best players they can be. No matter how hard they work, they’re probably never going to play in the NFL. And that’s fine.
The lessons, friendships, and life skills gained from being part of a team are what truly matter.
No matter how much talent you have, how big you grow, or what natural athleticism you were born with, it is what it is. What counts is that you work your hardest and give your best effort. Don’t hold back because you got caught up comparing yourself to someone else.
Powerlifting: Competing With Yourself
In powerlifting and weightlifting, while you’re technically competing against other lifters, the truth is you’re really competing against yourself.
When you enter a meet, you go in with a plan, your attempts, your target weights, all based on your training and what you believe you can hit on “game day.”
If you show up and another lifter hits 50 pounds more than you, every lifter knows you can’t just load 50 extra pounds on the bar and expect to match them. It doesn’t work that way.
You train hard, lift what you can lift, and compete with focus. The results are the results. Maybe you take first, maybe you don’t, but if you prepared and gave everything you had, you walk away with the satisfaction that you did your best.
So don’t compare, just compete!