We really can help.
When men and women become professional athletes, they enter a brand new culture as gladiators who get pampered, protected, and promoted because of their ability and willingness to perform in the arena on command. Pro sports entities spend a great many resources preparing their players to perform successfully on the field. They provide targeted, continuous coaching in every aspect of what to expect during a game.
However, players are not prepared as well to perform successfully off the field; and it is the off-field aspects of the gladiator culture that are most likely to damage not only the future of the players, but also the effectiveness and reputation of a sport, a league, and a team.
- The gladiator culture is a culture of being “owned” and traded at the team’s will.
- It is a culture of having to be in warrior mode during a game and expected to leave all of that adrenaline, aggression, and possible frustration in the locker room.
- It is a culture of fast and furious transitions with little to no training in how to cope.
- It is a culture of unmanaged downtime.
- It is a culture of excess and seemingly unrestricted availability.
- It is a culture of living in a glass house with unrelenting pressure and scrutiny.
- It is a culture of sudden wealth, fame, and isolation.
- It is a culture that requires mastering attitudes, accountabilities, and life management skills that may be foreign.
Players are not coached to be competent in these areas. We can help you there.
ARD specializes in equipping players to navigate the gladiator culture successfully with a focus on:
- an individual’s needs and accomplishments
- close observation
- impartial and non-judgmental feedback on performance
- tools and guidance for mastery