When we think about a “good” practice or workout, what comes to mind? For many, it might mean few mistakes, high percentages, or smooth execution. But is that really what good looks like?
Take a shooting workout, for example. If “good” means missing very few shots, we’ll naturally gravitate toward drills that minimize difficulty. We might focus on standstill shots where we can shoot a high percentage. There’s nothing wrong with shooting standstill shots—they have their place—but is that truly preparing us for the chaos of a game?
In a game, we’re rarely standing still. We’re shooting on the move, under pressure, and in challenging situations. Those scenarios are harder, and we’ll likely miss more shots in practice. Does that mean the workout is “bad”? I don’t think so.
Challenge Leads to Growth
When we embrace difficult situations in practice, we give ourselves the opportunity to learn how to handle them in games. Missing more shots or making more mistakes in those scenarios doesn’t mean we’re failing—it means we’re growing.
The same applies to turnovers. We often view turnovers as inherently bad and work hard to avoid them. But ask yourself this:
Would you rather focus on avoiding a turnover or focus on making a play?
When we focus too much on avoiding mistakes, we might succeed in cutting down errors, but we also miss out on opportunities to make great plays. By taking risks and embracing challenges, we allow ourselves to grow, even if it means occasional failures along the way.
The Takeaway: Redefine what “good” looks like.
• “Good” isn’t avoiding mistakes—it’s learning from them.
• “Good” isn’t perfection—it’s progress through challenges.
So, the next time you step into a workout or practice, ask yourself: are you playing it safe to look good, or are you embracing difficulty to get better?
Let’s focus on growth over comfort, and progress over perfection.
— Reid Ouse
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