Always make withdrawals, rarely make deposits

We can take this illustration in many different directions. I've shared my concern with the abundance of competitions compared to practices. I've also talked about young athletes are burning out at an alarming rate because of unneeded pressures that steal their margin (margin is the space between load and limit). The truth is, we're a limited resource and we have to be strategic about how we use our time.

If withdrawals exceed deposits, an overdraft is inevitable. We all know this and watch the balance sheet in our checking accounts. Are we doing the same with our life? When someone files bankruptcy, it's too late to start looking at the balance sheet. That work should have been years before the breaking point. The same is true in divorce, giving up, quitting, etc. The breaking point might provide a new perspective, but it's too late to start monitoring the balance. That has to be done well in advance, with foresight and vision, with hopes and dreams, with classifications and priorities.

As a coach, I encourage every athlete to make a priorities list and check it often. I give them permission to classify and prioritize their commitments and relationships. I encourage them to give themselves permission, too. Because some people are useful and some are useless. Some opportunities are build our lives up, others tear them down. When liabilities have out-weigh assets our debt ratio becomes uncontrollable and presents a large number of risks.

In the market place, the higher the debt ratio, the greater risk will be associated with the firm's operation. Like all financial ratios, a company's debt ratio should be compared with their industry average or other competing firms. In the industry of youth sports, the debt ratio of young athletes is running at an unsustainable rate. If the same ratio was attached to an investment firm, a lot of people would lose their money.

Yesterday, an 11-year old athlete told me that his baseball team was scheduled to play 16 games over four days this weekend and into next week. I was shocked by that number and my only response was that he should bring a lot of sunscreen. Our best junior athletes wrestled over 15 matches in four days last week in Oklahoma (down from 20+ matches in previous years). A family friend of ours said they go to soccer games nearly every night. So many athletes are making withdrawal after withdrawal, but not depositing anything. An overdraft is inevitable. When the teenager files bankruptcy on his young sports career, it's too late to offer alternatives.

Classify and prioritize. Is it necessary to participate if it robs your family of movie night? It is worth it to try to impress a coach at the expense of a family vacation, prom, a graduation ceremony, etc.? Why do you do what you do? What's the long-term vision (of your "coach" or your son/daughter or you)? Why not take a night off?

Last night, I took the night off and took my son to the movie 'Brave.' It was awesome to hang out with him. One of the best nights of my life. Much to my chagrin, the athletes that I left at Victory didn't suffer a bit. In fact, many of them went to the movie, too. Maybe they needed a movie night placed into their rigorous sports schedule to actually take some time for themselves (make a deposit). Since leaving the theater, Isaiah and I have been repeating the line with Merida's little Irish accent, "if you could change your fate, would ya?" Well, would YOU?