How to Be Your Best Athlete
 They say that sports are a great way for young girls to build healthy body image and self-esteem. You just have to make sure that you use the opportunity to build up your self esteem and not to tear it down.
Know Your Role
You can’t be everything in a sport, especially a team sport. You have a position, a role, that you have to fill and it’s important that you keep any associated responsibilities in mind at all times. Talk to your coach, or mentor, about what they expect of you, both at practice and during game time. Make sure you understand those expectations and agree with them. If you have concerns about what your coach wants you to do, make sure you discuss them and find a common middle ground.
Set a Realistic Goal
Once you know your roles and responsibilities you should set a goal. It’s always good to dream big, but for your actual goal try to start with something completely attainable. And base it on the expected performance outcome you discussed with your coach, you can even work with your coach/mentor to set your goal(s). Once you have the goal nailed down, make sure you write it down. And put it somewhere where you can always see it, so you know what you’re working towards. Track any progress or milestones along the way. When planning your goal make sure you set a deadline against it. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss your deadline, just make sure you keep making progress even if it’s just baby steps.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Every athlete has a bad day! You have to remember to face the setbacks dead on and learn from the obstacles they present. Anytime you feel like you could have given a better performance it’s best to think about what you did do well and capitalize on those gains. Take any mistakes as a great time to learn more about yourself and your abilities. As always, look to your coach or mentor for the best advice and tips on how to keep moving forward. Also keep in mind that we are often our worst critics and it’s important to remember not to get overly critical on yourself.
Celebrate All Successes!
As you track your goal milestones and progress it’s important to celebrate any and all successes along the way. If you play a team sport don’t forget to celebrate any successes that you contributed to, even if you weren’t the “star player.” Team work is the backbone to true success in most sports. Get your family and friends involved for the really big achievements.
| 
