A Message to our Student-Athletes
Dear FLCC student-athletes,
I hope you are staying safe and healthy surrounded by friends and family. This is an unnerving time for our FLCC community. The past couple of weeks have been a rollercoaster for you regarding your seasons, classes, and overall way of life. I am sure you have heard the phrases, “everyone is in the same boat” or “this is out of our control.” These phrases are meant to add a sense of comfort and support, although I am not sure they mean much to you. So, let’s keep it real.
This situation is unfortunate. It is scary. There are so many questions and so much uncertainty. Many of you had your seasons taken away from you, and truly, I am sorry. Being a student-athlete, you have the natural ability to rise up to challenges, to face adversity, and to overcome obstacles. It’s in your competitive edge. Each one of you has experience competing in a challenging atmosphere, whether it’s playing baseball or softball in the rain, lacrosse in the snow, or running through muddy trails—you know how to get through it. As a student-athlete, you can face the tests confronting you and succeed, because you have been doing it your whole life.
At this moment probably some or most of you are lacking motivation: the motivation to transition to online learning, the motivation to keep up your skills, to rehab on a past injury, etc. This is the time to once again come together as a team, both your own team AND the bigger team of all of our student-athletes at FLCC. When it’s not going well in practice, you push each other. When someone has a turnover in a game or misses a shot, you rally around each other. You came together then and you can come together now. During these times when we are separated, choose to be together. Reach out to your teammates, push each other, and motivate yourself. You already know how to do it.
In the next couple of weeks, you will have questions—ask them. Ask them to your coaches, faculty, staff, and anyone on campus. There will be times when you have to wait to get answers, but understand that you will get them. There will be times when you are frustrated—it’s natural. It’s not an easy set up for anyone, so show some emotion just like on the field or court. Emotion means you care. When you are frustrated, use the emotion you have in a positive way. Thank your friends for being there for you. Thank the people know you in your life that are on the front lines. FaceTime with a family member. Get the emotion out in a positive way, just like what we talk about in Winning with Character. Again—you know how to do this.
You are going to miss your sport. You are going to miss open gym and the fitness center. You are going to miss the extra time that you made for yourself just shooting hoops or hitting in the cage. Right now, we can’t fix that, but recognize that you still have that drive. You have the drive to continue to move forward and look ahead. You know what that drive feels like as it is naturally in you as a student-athlete. Use your drive to finish your classes strong, keep up your athletic skills, and keep connected with our FLCC athletic community. Set short-term and long-terms goals, just like you would do before your seasons begins. Ask yourself, “how can I be better?” What do I need to do to stay in the game? You know the answers, because you have asked the questions before.
As you finish the school year strong, find happiness. Think about that time when you set a personal record in a meet or you went 4-for-4 in a game. Think about the times hanging out with your teammates after practice and the laughs you had in pregame. Happiness will get you through the worst of times. Support each other just like you always do. Think about when you were asked, “what makes you a good teammate?” You have the opportunity to show why right now and be thankful for that opportunity.
This new normal is not going to be easy. The easy thing to do would be to just give up, but as student-athletes, your competitive edge kicks in. Don’t let giving up be an option. You already have everything you need to be successful, which is truly a gift. For our sophomore student-athletes, I know you are hurting. For some of you, this spring might have been the end of your career and you won’t get that moment back. There is nothing that I can say to reverse that, but understand that there is always going to be another game. Whether you are coaching in a game, watching a game, or thinking about a past game that meant so much to you, there will be games and you will play a part. The opportunity to stay connected to your sport is in your control—use it.
In a time where there are no more physical games this season, you all know how to compete in the overall game that is in front of you. Rise up to the challenge and find your edge. Keep it in perspective and think ahead. Find happiness in each other and laugh along the way. Be motivated to win this game and don’t accept losing. You know the drills and you know the game. Let’s finish strong. We are in this together. Go Lakers!
Sincerely,
The FLCC Department of Athletics