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Become the best athlete you can be with this all-encompassing guide
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If sports are something that interests you, it stands to reason you would want to be good at them. Succeeding at a sport takes skill, and skill takes patience and determination. However, there are other things you need to think about if you want to be a good sports player. Skill alone may take you far, but you'll never go all the way unless you have the right attitude and team spirit to back it up.

1

Join a sports team.

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  1. If you want to become a sports superstar, joining a team is a good way to start. Even if your skills are currently low, joining an amateur league will sharpen up your skills. Sports teams are everywhere, and most of them are free to join. If you go to school, you should go for team tryouts when they're happening. Recreation centres are often host to sports teams as well.[1]
    • If you're not in school, you can find or start a sports club online.
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2

Get a great coach.

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  1. Great coaches come in all shapes and sizes.[2] Certain coaching personalities will suit you better than others. The best scenario is having a coach who genuinely wants to see you succeed. In the early stages, enthusiasm is often more helpful than scientific know-how.
    • Across the board, communication skills are the most important trait a coach can have.[3]
    • There are different levels of sports coach. Most after-school coaches are volunteers with a working knowledge of the sport and enthusiasm for the game. You can hire a sports coach with full training and education, although it will set you back a lot of money.[4]
3

Set your sights wide.

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5

Allow room for flexibility.

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  1. In an actual competition, things aren't usually going to play exactly by the books. While you're practicing, you'll usually be playing under optimal circumstances. In order to make sure you'll be up for the unforeseen challenges, you need to predict the conditions of the competition.[7] Ask yourself if you are learning a skill, or if you're learning to actually use that skill in the competitions you'll be in.
    • Remember this motto: "Train the way you want to play."[8]
    • There's no way to perfectly replicate a competition in practice, but playing with other people can get you used to the scenarios you'll need to beware of.
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6

Add new levels of challenge as you build a skill.

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  1. It is common for bodies to adapt to a level of strain. Progress will slow down if you don't keep upping the stakes as you go along. Bodybuilders and strength-oriented athletes do this by increasing their reps or the weights they work with. As a competition athlete, the best thing you can do to keep progress going is to practice the skills while under fatigue.[9]
    • Studies have shown that skill execution goes out the window when you get tired, so it's a good idea to build endurance in your sport.
    • Building up your speed is important too. Speed usually comes with practice, but you shouldn't try to rush into speed until you have the basics down pat.[10]
7

Practice until your skills become second nature.

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  1. If you're wondering at what point a skill becomes mastered, it is when you're able to do it automatically and without thinking. This is called the autonomous phase, and it's where you want to be at if you want to play sports competitively.[11] Given enough time and repetition, a skill will eventually fall under this category. When you're in the fray of a game, you won't have time to think everything through, so practice until it's all automatic, so you'll know you're ready.
    • When you're playing a sport like football in a competition, you're going to potentially need to throw a ball while getting chased by several competitors. You can't replicate this stress in private practice, so you have to make sure your toss is perfected beforehand.
    • Keep practicing. Practice is never something that should stop. even if you become great at sports, you can always become better. If you stop practicing, chances are that someone more determined will beat you.
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8

Apply for a gym membership.

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  1. The best athletes know that training doesn't stop at sports skills. You want your body to be as sharp as it can be for whatever sport you're playing. On the downtime away from sports, keep your body in general shape by going to the gym. Although it may seem daunting or expensive, it is absolutely worth the investment if you want to be good at sports. There are lots of benefits to going to a gym. As you'll know from playing in sports teams, exercising with others is very motivating.
    • Do some research into a prospective gym before you pay for a membership. Go for a tour, and ask for details. Make sure the gym fits the circumstances of your life before you make your first payment.[12]
11

Drink lots of water.

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{endbold}Water cannot be underestimated as part of a healthy diet. Staying hydrated will help you feel mentally and physically your best. Water regulates everything, and you should expect to lose some of your natural hydration via sweat while you exercise.[16]

    • The common "8 glasses a day" guideline isn't mandatory, but you should try to keep water next to you whenever you can. It's especially important to stock up on water while you're exercising.
    • Keep a refillable bottle of water around with you. Refill it when it goes empty. You'll find your water consumption goes up a lot if you simply keep it near you.
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13

Set ambitious but realistic goals for yourself.

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  1. This does not mean being unrealistic, or saying you're going to go professional within a year. Instead, you should take a look at what you are, and figure out where you think you would like to be. Give yourself a suitable amount of time to achieve that goal, and break it down into smaller parts if the goal is especially big.[19]
    • For example, if you do want to go professional, take a look at what the requirements are, and work your way up to each one. You may have to go semi-pro first.
    • Rather than focusing on the big picture, focus on the smaller one instead. For example, you could focus on your technique.
    Serena Williams
    Serena Williams, Professional Tennis Player

    Believe in yourself and your abilities no matter what. "It doesn't matter what your background is or where you come from, if you have dreams and goals, that's all that matters."

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16

Accept criticism.

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  1. When you play sports, you will inevitably receive criticism, and you need to be willing to listen when it's constructive.[21] Are they angry because you missed a pass, or do they sincerely want to help you improve? Learn to distinguish the constructive criticism from the hurtful remarks. In a lot of cases, you can use criticism as motivation to get better in whatever area they bring up.
    • Don't let yourself get defensive.[22] Your thinking becomes more limited if you allow yourself to become emotional against criticism.
    • Keep your ego under control. Even if you think you are the best, be open to constructive criticism.
17

Nurture friendships with other players.

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  1. One of the biggest reasons people join sports teams in the first place is to make friends with new people. If you join a team, you're bound to run into a lot of people. Chances are you'll develop friendships with at least some of them. Making these friendships a priority is a good move if you want to become great at sports. You can practice together on your own time. The morale boost of playing with friends helps as well.
    • Team sports like soccer can have some skills practiced in solitude, but for others (like goalkeeping and passing) another person is needed. It's helpful to have this other person as a friend. It'll make the practice process more enjoyable in the long term.
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22

Know your competition.

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  1. Having a good idea what to expect with the opposing side is important, regardless whether you're going one on one or playing as a team. If you want to know which techniques you should be using in the midst of certain competitors, it's a good idea to study their methods in the days and weeks before a big game. If there is any footage of those players during a game, give it a shot.
    • The science of analytics turns the respective skills of your teammates and competitors into a sharp formula.[24] Matching each player to their best strengths is integral to a team's success. Professional sports analysts make it their specific business to analyze the sporting behaviour of athletes.
24

Push yourself further than others are willing to go.

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  1. A lot of the best athletes may have had a natural aptitude for it, but the reason they ultimately succeed is because they want victory more than any of the competition. That's a tricky thing to develop inside yourself, but if the desire is intense enough, you will do just about anything to make your dreams a reality. This broadly applies to the mindset of training, but it's incredibly important during a competition.
    • How much you want to win will have an effect on how far you end up pushing yourself. Sometimes, the distance between winning and losing is very small. A world of difference is made from that added bit of effort.
    • Remember, passion is the key to most kinds of success, and the same applies to sports.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    I am not good in sports at all. How can I improve myself?
    Michele Dolan
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Base level fitness is important and makes a huge difference in athleticism. Start running 3 times a week and do some basic strength-training like push-ups and chin-ups. After you build up your cardiovascular fitness and strength, you can start to work on your coordination skills by practicing ball play, kicking, and catching to improve your hand-eye coordination. Then, you'll be ready to learn sport-specific skills like dribbling a soccer ball or hitting a home run.
  • Question
    I am a girl of 16 years, and I am not good at sports. However, I want to be a sports girl. What should I do?
    Michele Dolan
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Start by building up your base level fitness, which is necessary for athleticism. You can do this by running 3 times a week and doing basic strength-training exercises, like push-ups and chin-ups. After you build up your cardiovascular strength and fitness, you can start building your coordination skills with ball play, kicking, and catching, which improve hand-eye coordination. Then you'll be able to work on sport specific skills, such as dribbling a soccer ball, hitting a home run, or spiking a volleyball.
  • Question
    How can you beat someone who is really good in long distance, if you are a short distance runner?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Practice endurance and do strength training. Set a steady pace when running and focus on your breathing.
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Tips

  • Be a student in the game and out. If you're looking for an edge, watch some of your sport's greatest athletes at work in videos. If anything, it gives a great inspiration to improve your form.
  • Everything comes with time. You won't become great at sports overnight, but if you put a little bit of time into honing your skills each day, you'll see a huge result in time.
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Warnings

  • Don't get jealous of others' performance. You may think poorly of yourself due to the way you see other players compete, but that's not going to do anything to help you in the long run. Keep your chin up, and keep your spirits high.
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About This Article

Isaac Hess
Co-authored by:
Sports Coach
This article was co-authored by Isaac Hess. Isaac Hess is a Baseball Coach, Instructor, and the Founder of MADE Baseball Development and Champion Mindset Training Program, a baseball training program based in Los Angeles, California. Isaac has over 14 years of experience coaching baseball and specializes in private lessons and tournaments. He has played baseball for both professional and collegiate leagues including Washington State University and the University of Arizona. Isaac was ranked as one of Baseball America's top 10 prospects for 2007 and 2008. He earned a BS in Regional Development from the University of Arizona in 2007. This article has been viewed 178,184 times.
41 votes - 82%
Co-authors: 28
Updated: September 8, 2024
Views: 178,184
Categories: Sports and Fitness
Article SummaryX

To be good at sports, start by joining a sports team at your school or a recreation center. Next, focus on learning the basics to the point of them being second nature before tackling anything advanced. In addition to working on your sports skills, work on honing your entire body by joining a gym to stay in shape. Additionally, make sure to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep in order to recover from your workouts. To learn how to stay focused on game day, keep reading!

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