Striving for Better

As I take time to reflect back and look at my Championship Team, lead by Rocky Carson and Paola Longoria and followed by my Juniors, Wayne Antone, Jordan Cooperrider and Mitchell Turner, there is a definite theme going on explaining why they are so successful, holding numerous championship titles.

All my athletes are ALWAYS STRIVING to be BETTER than they were yesterday. No matter what their records are, and you can see below just how successful they are, there is not a day that goes by that they are not working on their games. I work with each one of them weekly by phone, doing video analysis, creating practice/drilling sessions, talking about mental adjustments, reminding them to journal, and discussing what is going on in their lives to stay connected. It’s about the relationship they have with themselves as well as with me as their coach, and the balance they create in their lives. NOT ONE OF MY ATHLETES is complacent.

Here’re a few quotes I share with my championship team weekly/monthly from the internet, books, magazines, and with my sports psychologist, Diana McNab:

• “I am in competition with no one. I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone. I am simply trying to be better than the person I was yesterday.”  – Unknown
• “The best of the best try to do better after each failure. The worse just blame everyone, but themselves.” – Unknown
• “I can’t believe it”, said Luke. “That is why you fail.” – Yoda
• “It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up.” – Vince Lombardi

Here’s how my Championship Team PROVES that a “Striving to Be Better” attitude is a critical part of performing at their best:

Rocky Carson “Never Give Up…Fight Until the End.” –Unknown

Finished #2 on the IRT for the last 9 seasons

4X and Present World Champion

2X and Present Pan American Champion

9X and Present National Champion Singles and National Champion Doubles

11X and Present Outdoor World Champion

USA Team Member for 20 Years

Paola Longoria “I Always Strive to be Better than I am Today.” Unknown

Finished #1 on the LPRT for the 7^th Year and UNDEFEATED in 2016

5X and Present World Champion

2X and Present Pan American Champion

10X and Present National Champion Singles/Doubles

Mexican Team Member for 10 Years

Mexican “Female Athlete of the Year” 2010 & 2014

Wayne Antone “Believe in the Process…Believe in Yourself.” Unknown

Junior National Champion Boy’s 18 Singles & Boy’s 16 Doubles

3X Junior USA National Team

2X Junior World Championship Team

Jordan Cooperrider,“Dig as Deep as You Can and Never Stop Trying.” –Unknown

High School National Champion

Junior National Champion Girl’s 18 S/D

Junior Female Athlete of the Year

7X Junior USA National Team

5X Junior World Championship Team

Mitchell Turner “Working Hard is NOT an Option, but a NECESSITY.” -Unknown

Junior National Team Boy’s 16 D

2X Junior USA National Team

2X Junior World Championship Team

 

I am so proud of ALL MY ATHLETES, Rocky, Paola, Wayne, Jordan, Ingrid and Mitchell for achieving their goals.

Their “Striving to Be Better” attitudes are yet another required skill set on the road to championship racquetball. ALL of the players I coach, from the professionals led by Rocky and Paola to the amateurs, know just how important it is to “bring it on”. Their records speak for themselves…Rocky and Paola are BOTH 2 of the most decorated athletes in racquetball. Paola finished ranked #1 for the 7^th time on the LPRT, 7X US Open Champions, 5X World Champion and 4X Pan American Champion. Rocky finished ranked #2 for the 9^th time on the IRT, 5X World Champion, 2X Pan American Champion and US Open Champion.

In the next issue, I will continue to build your Championship Racquetball Game one level at a time so you too can be ready to become the champion you always dreamed of becoming, by giving you the tools to make it a reality. Rocky and all my athletes “Championship Racquetball Games” stem from their focus on ALL 3 sides of the triangle working together so they can develop into top competitors. Without a shadow of a doubt, they KNOW just how important it is to do the work. They are living proof it works and their titles substantiate it.

For details on more personalized tips, instruction/video lessons, a weekend camp, instructional DVD’s and our book, Championship Racquetball) ALL which covers all aspects of the Sports Racquetball Triangle and more, please visit www.FranDavisRacquetball.com. Fran Davis is a 2004 racquetball Hall of Fame inductee; Racquetball Woman of the Year 2009; Coaches #2 men’s professional International International Tour (IRT) Pro Player / 1X US Open Champion / 5X and present World Champion, 2X and present Pan American Champion, Rocky Carson; Coaches #1 Women’s LPRT Pro Player for 7 seasons / 7X and present US Open Champion & 5X and present World Champion, 2X and present Pan American Champion, Paola Longoria; Coaches Jr. World & National Champions, Jordan Cooperrider, Wayne Antone, Mitchell Turner and Ingrid Robledo; Master Professional Instructor/Coach USAR-IP.