Charlie Magdaleno: Blog

Know the gameplan.  When you understand what your team stands for, and what your role and responsibilities are, you give yourself the best chance to succeed.  

Never forego a good warm-up.  Starting a contest with good circulation, good flexibility, and a good mindset shows an investment and consideration in your performance that can pay off late in the game when any given moment is the difference between victory and defeat.  At the very least, a good warm-up can make it a lot less likely you'll get hurt somewhere along the way.

Respect the competition, as well as yourself.  It's important to be aware of your opponent's legacy in the game, as well as how they've fared before.  When competing for the win, an understanding of how the opponent will try to beat you, as well as how you can help them beat themselves, cannot be stressed enough.  You may be equals, you may even be friends, but you must leave no doubt that now is your time.

Play with passion. Yes, you may put yourself in harm's way a few times, and yes, you may get some penalties called on you; but if you can't play with passion, you've already lost.

Keep your eye on the ball.  You're going to strikeout, you're going to throw some interceptions, and you're going to lose some games.  But you can't dwell on what could have been or what you should have done.  You've got to keep your composure and get ready for the next play or the next matchup.  The important thing is that at any given moment, on any given play, you do the best you can with the information and abilities at your disposal.  If you can just do this consistently, you'll come out on top in the only game that matters- the big one.

Remember that the be-all and end-all of any game is sportsmanship.  Play the game with the honor and respect that it deserves.  Play hard, but play cleanly.  Opponents will lie, cheat, and steal their way to victory but you must remain above undermining the integrity of competition.  The only thing worse than a loss is an empty win.

When it's all said and done, always shake hands.  Sometimes you lose the game by not being able to step up.  Sometimes you give it away through mental error.  And it's always those victories, those celebrations, that SHOULD have been yours that burn the most.  One way or another, however, in a game like that the best team always wins- and sometimes, that's not you.  Still, if you show some respect and perhaps even some happiness for your opponent's efforts, you might just get the chance to play them once more for all of the marbles- and next time you'll be wiser, stronger, and with the world on your side.