Coach's Corner: Breaking down the 'art of practice'

Our local high school teams are currently entrenched in the practice phase of the 2021-22 high school sports season. Soon, many of our youth programs will begin the same.

Boys football, girls volleyball, cross-country, tennis, golf and boys soccer are all in the final stages of their IHSA mandated two-week practice period before starting competition.

Before going any further on the "art of practice," let me just state, as I am sure everyone else feels, that thank goodness our young athletes and their coaches, parents and fans will be experiencing a full season this year. It is good to see sports and school back in full swing!

Now, back to thoughts on practice.

Many young athletes see only the drudgery of daily practices. It can, no doubt, be wearing and taxing on the body, both physically and mentally. Those grueling early season double practices in particular are a test of will, stamina and determination.

So, for a brief moment here, let us try and dissect what practicing is, or should be, all about. What can really be accomplished during these two weeks? What is the actual value of practice? Is it all really that necessary?

Let's let some others chime in on the topic.

• "I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of a dedicated, precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired."

- Dance teacher Martha Graham

Wow. This one is pretty heavy, but some good stuff here from Martha. I think what she is saying is the only way to really learn is through the repetition of practice.

How about this one?

• "If you think practice is boring, try sitting on the bench."

I don't think any explanation is here.

• "The only way you should be able to tell it's practice? Is by what you're wearing."

Hmm, a solid picturesque point made here. Try and hit the same intensity level in practice as you do when you compete on game day while wearing your school jersey against your arch rival.

• "Practice like you've never won, play like you've never lost."

- Michael Jordan

MJ nails it! If you practice with that chip on your shoulder, even if you are one of the better players or better teams, - if you practice like you have something to prove - come game day, you will have the confidence to perform and succeed.

• "Don't practice until you get it right, practice until you cannot possibly get it wrong."

- NFL coach Mike Shanahan

Interesting sentiment here. Practice and repeat so many times that it becomes habit. That way, in the heat of competition, you don't have to get it right, because you will automatically do it right. But, again, that only comes from practice and repetition.

• "The more you practice, the more freedom you have to create."

- Jocko Willink

Not sure who Jocko Willink is, but I love the thought. The athletes who have the great ability to create on the field or the court only get that freedom because they have practiced and mastered the basics.

• "To give yourself the best possible chance of playing to your potential, you must prepare for every eventuality."

- Hall of Fame golfer Seve Ballesteros

To me, this one means don't just practice the easy, normal stuff, but anticipate the harder, unexpected scenarios that might come up in competition.

• "The only way a kid is going to practice is if it's total fun for him ... and it was for me."

- Hockey great Wayne Gretzky

Two points here. Coaches, you have to find ways to make practice fun, and athletes, too, have to seek the joy in practice.

• "Practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect."

-NFL coaching legend Vince Lombardi

Most of us have heard this one, but the message bears repeating. Just simply being out their practicing long hours doesn't make you great. You have to practice the right way.

• "You might not feel good, and you might not want to practice, but you still go out there and practice as hard as you can."

- Logan Mankins, All Pro NFL offensive lineman

Yup. It is easy to practice hard when you are feeling at you're best. But how many can still give max effort, and fight through whatever pain they may be feeling, and still give their best effort at practice?

• "The more I practice the luckier I get."

-Golf great Gary Player

Interesting how some teams, and some athletes just seem to get luckier than others. There are no guarantees, of course, as luck is a matter of fate and coincidence sometimes. But there is no question that the more time you put into practice, the tendency is you will be luckier in actual competition.

As the old saying goes "luck is when preparation meets opportunity."

Above are just a few of the many thoughts over the years from top athletes and coaches on the value of practice.

Soon the games will begin. The desire to win on game day is almost always at fever pitch, with fans in attendance, teammates cheering you on and your opponents directly across from you. The question is how many have the same high intensity desire to excel at practice as well?

Even though I have never been a big fan of some his coaching tactics or personality traits, maybe controversial Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight summed it up best: "Everyone has the will to win, but few have the will to prepare to win."

• Jon Cohn of Glenview is a coach, retired PE teacher, sports official and prep sports fan. To contact him with comments or story ideas, email jcsportsandtees@aol.com.