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Factors of Women's Success in Sports

Successful athletes have a variety of factors in common including athleticism, talent, a hard work ethic and discipline. Implementing the right combination of these factors is the key to women's success in sports.



In the United States, while there has always been involvement by women in sports, they have not always been socially accepted as athletes. With the passage of the Educational Acts of 1972 came Title IX, a groundbreaking law that prevents institutions receiving federal aid from discrimination in activities on the basis of gender. While this law is not exclusive to sports, it has helped women make huge strides in athletics at both high school and intercollegiate levels, and provided the opportunity for women to find immense amounts of success through athletics outside of schools.
  1. Fitness and Strength

    • Enhance strength by working outside of the playing field.

      Fitness and strength are key components of a successful athlete and are accomplished via work outside of her practice field. Concentration on aerobic activities such as running, biking or swimming enhances fitness. Strength training utilizes anaerobic exercise like weight lifting, core training and interval training to enhance power and speed.

      Create the ultimate routine by catering it specifically to her sport. For example, runners should focus primarily on aerobic activities. Use anaerobic exercises for pinpointing specific spots for improvement, such as sprinting.

    Talent and Hard Work

    • Repetition improves skill level.

      For success, talent at the given sport is necessary. While natural ability is a major benefit, hard work is the factor most important in success. Time spent practicing and perfecting the various movements of the sport serve to increase her ability to correctly utilize them during competition. This means lots of repetition and consistency while she works. When working on difficult moves, it is often beneficial to watch her movements in a mirror or have someone videotape her to play back.

    Discipline

    • To truly succeed in any sport, women need self-discipline for every aspect of the sport; the training, the competing and the time in between. A well disciplined athlete is better adept for success. Being disciplined means attending every practice, pushing herself to give 100 percent every practice, and working outside of practice, either by working on fitness and strength conditioning, practicing moves or researching new strategies for her sport.

    Attitude and Goal Setting

    • Set a goal and retain a positive attitude for success.

      Knowing the time, pain and preparation necessary for success in sports, keeping a positive attitude will help her achieve her optimal potential by helping her continue to push her limits. Setting goals and realistic expectations helps maintain a positive attitude by setting a bar to shoot for. Understanding what she wants to achieve is important throughout the training process. Goals can range from improving a mile time, being able to keep the game close or placing first in a tournament.

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