M4:D59 (D359) Hustle

  

What's on my mind today?

Today was hockey day for us in our household as is most every Saturday between September and February every year.  This year has been particularly frustrating because my son's team doesn't seem to be getting what they are taught.  It has lead to quite alot of work for my son (who is the goaltender) and alot of frustration for the coaches.

During the game I am always on the bench as the equipment manager.  Today was even frustrating for me.  The kids have learned their positions during practice, but during the games they slack off and don't hustle.  I began conversing with them on the bench about the importance of hustle and I quickly discovered that they all have no clue what it means to hustle.  Let me explain.

During one particular conversation, the two boys I was speaking to had just made a major mistake that resulted in a goal being scored.  The play had developed into a scoring opportunity for the other team because one of the two boys had assumed the referee was going to blow his whistle to indicate the other team was off sides, but that didn't happen.  The player making the assumption made absolutely no effort to come into the play and help out and that gave the opponent an easy shot on goal and that player converted that opportunity into a score.

As the two defensemen entered the bench at the end of that shift, I asked what had happened on the goal.  They both exclaimed "Matthew should have come out about another foot and he could have stopped that shot, but it was an awesome shot!"  I asked them why they didn't hustle to get into the play.  "Hustle?  What do you mean?"  I explained that while on the ice they must give their full and complete effort at all times.  Hockey is a very fast paced game that requires the players to push themselves at all times.  This is why short shifts are so important.  Hustle is when you give it your all at all times.  It is getting to the puck first. It is finishing your hits.  It is not worrying about whether or not you are going to get a whistle, but playing as though you are not going to get the whistle at all times.  "So we should have skated back even though that guy was offsides?"  I was stunned for a moment.  When I regained my composure I asked them a few questions.

"Did the referee call offsides?"  Obviously the answer was no.

"Did the fact that the referee didn't call offsides change your reaction to the play?"  Obviously the answer was yes.

At this point I explained that a player who was using hustle would have come back into the play no matter what.  They would have expected to not get the whistle.  I explained that had both of them done this, they would have been in position to check the puck carrier, thereby saving a goal.   This goal turned out to be the game winner for the other team.

The moral of my story today is that you can never take it easy when working out.  You never know when that day you choose to cruise is going to change your results.  You just don't know.  You have to handle every workout like it matters because it does.
 


 
Find out what I'm doing to my body!

Today was another steady state cardio session for me.  I went for 75 minutes and maintained my heart rate between 110 BPM and 115 BPM. 
 
Exercise the brain with the Thought of the Day!

Hustle in all aspects of your life like it is the last day you have. 
 
Get a discussion started by answering the question!

How do you show hustle in your workouts?  Comment this post to answer the question. 
 
 
  

Mission 2, Day59: The Big Reveal!

Until tomorrow...GET BACK TO LIFTING!

Posted by Michael Mahony at 10/18/2008 8:04 PM
Categories: Nutrition, Old Missions
 
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  • 10/20/2008 3:11 PM Ron wrote:
    Thanks for a wonderful post today. It teaches me not be be complacent with executing my fitness goals.
    Reply to this
  • 10/20/2008 5:25 PM Mike Groom wrote:
    Your Time Machine photo made me smile (again!). Was that really 200 days ago? Where have all those days gone?

    Mate, you look very serious in today's photo
    Reply to this
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