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Attitude Is Everything: How to Build a Championship Mindset
Apr 9, 2025
~5 Minutes
“Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while… you do them right all the time.”
– Vince Lombardi, NFL Hall of Fame Coach
Coaches, one of the most important lessons you can teach your athletes is that attitude is everything. In fact, it’s often the deciding factor between teams that win and teams that don’t, regardless of talent. The good news is, attitude can be taught, and as a coach, you’re in the perfect position to guide your players toward cultivating a positive, resilient mindset.
Let’s start by defining what a “championship attitude” looks like. A championship attitude isn’t just about being positive, but about staying focused, resilient, and committed to the team’s success. It’s about showing up, even when things are tough. It’s about staying in the moment and not letting mistakes define you. And it’s about always striving for improvement, no matter how successful you become.
One practical way to instill this kind of attitude is to create daily habits that promote it. Start each practice with a brief “attitude check.” Ask your athletes how they’re feeling and remind them of the importance of their mental state in achieving success. Regularly reinforce the idea that their attitude is a key ingredient to their performance.
Additionally, lead by example. If you, as a coach, are consistently upbeat and resilient, your athletes will follow suit. They’ll see that challenges are just another part of the game and will learn to keep pushing forward even when the going gets tough.