By Maggie Foight Good performance is almost always preceded by a detailed process that helps athletes reach their goals. Sage Klein (the February Male Student Feature) uses his own set of tools to reach success in his soccer games. Communication with teammates is one such tool that he uses. “I pay attention to direction and what’s going on from coaches. I listen to my teammates and other defenders. We communicate well -- if a certain situation happens, we know how to deal with it, how we should line up and move forward from there,” Klein says. Sometimes there are hurdles and detours, like injury or illness, on that road. However, these hindrances can be overcome as long as one trusts the process and works to get past whatever is in his way.
Addressing this concept, Klein says, “If I was injured, I would focus on recovery and how I can make myself better and stronger, and back into the movement of the game. In practice, we would place someone else in that position if someone was injured so we have time to adjust and understand how they play.” On the topic of the hurdle of sickness, Klein continues, “I try to block it out and not pay attention to how I feel. I try to ignore it so I can focus on the task ahead of me.” Doubt and nerves are both other hurdles that Klein must face sometimes. Both can set him back a few steps, causing him to be unfocused and unmotivated. When asked about how he feels about uncertainty and unease, he says, “Doubt makes you dwell on the negative and it doesn’t let you focus on the main goal. I guess I just try to think positively and confidently.” Nerves, something all athletes experience, are handled similarly by Klein. “I think about all the positives that could happen, not the negatives. I think, ‘Oh, maybe I’ll play good, maybe I will get a goal,’” he says. No matter the hurdle or obstacle in Sage Klein’s way, he will always try his hardest to achieve his goals, and for that, he should be recognized.
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