09/01/2026
I think one of the most important things young athletes can learn is to know what the task is.
If you’re a pitcher, the task is simple: throw the pitch that’s called for a strike.
The how? Trust the work you’ve put in.
You’re either going to win the pitch or lose the pitch. A win doesn’t mean you can stop improving, and if you lose it doesn’t mean you suck.
If you’re hitting, the task is: put your best swing on a hittable pitch.
Win the pitch or lose the pitch, it doesn’t matter. There’s always another pitch waiting for you to win.
The problem is, young athletes often get trapped in the results. They overanalyze every play, searching for something to fix when nothing actually needs fixing.
Play the long game.
Practice is where you fix things.
The game is where you trust yourself.
Have the strength to focus on one task.
The courage to trust your work.
The confidence to stay present. And focused.
And enough love for yourself that failure never changes how you see you.
Focus on the task. Let the results overtime take care of themselves.
When you go out and play, you might finally unlock how much fun this game is. Los Angeles Dodgers Greg Olsen MLB ⚾
