Pyramid of Success

By Clay Bewley M.Ed. & CSCS, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at Willow Canyon High School

Long lasting athletic success, much like a long-lasting structure, must be built in the correct order in order to stand the test of time.  The following four aspects of success; discipline, effort, consistency, and fun must be layered on top of one another in order to sustain each other.  This pyramid is designed to aid a young athlete and his/her parents on how to build for long lasting success.  This is known as the High School Athletic Development Pyramid of Success.  Much like the famous John Wooden Pyramid of Success, this is designed to be easy to understand and act as a building block for future success.

 Discipline is the foundation of any and all sustained success.  This is often times what separates the good from the average and the great from the good.  In any aspect of athletic development, the intended skill must be performed the correct way.  If the drill is being done incorrectly, all you are doing is perfecting an incorrect skill.  If you are constantly pulling up before the finish line during practice then you will pull up when it is time to race.  The old idiom of practice makes perfect is only a half truth.  Practice makes perfect only when practiced perfectly.  Without this aspect of discipline acting as a foundation for success there is little sustainability.  

Coach Clay's Pyramid of Success

Once the drill, lift, or skill is being performed correctly in a disciplined matter it is time to put forth greater effort into that drill.  Our bodies are designed to live and operate in a comfort zone (homeostatic range).  In order for the body to compensate and grow that comfort zone must be stressed.  If there is no stress put onto the body there is no response to rebuild and repair the intercellular structure of the skeletal muscle tissue.  The effort put into the drill, lift, or skill will determine the return on investment of that drill.  If little effort is put in there will be little stress, there will be little repair, and there will be little improvement.  Put your full effort into what you are doing in that moment to get the desired outcome.   If you attend a practice or perform a great training session with effort and discipline… that is great!  You got the most out of that day but that is one day.  One great day out of the week will not lead you where you need to go.  Part time consistency yields part time results while full time consistency yields full time results.  Keep showing up to your assigned practices, training session, and skill sessions over and over and over again.  Discipline and effort recycled again and again over the course of weeks, months, and years is what allows for development to occur.  This is how people change their bodies through training.  This is how skills are perfected and mastered.  Life happens and you might miss a day or two from time to time.  But those who are consistent are the ones who see lasting success.  

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.  Mental and emotional burnout is a real thing and has claimed the careers of countless athletes.  Not every practice will be fun and not every training session will be a walk in the park.  Ups and downs during a season will happen.  So, when success does occur in play or in training, take a small moment, smile, and celebrate that success.  Celebrate a new personal record set in training.  Find times to laugh during a good practice.  Cherish the moment when you made the play during the game.  Finding joy fuels, one’s competitive fire and can help lead to further success.  If this joy is not cultivated and protected, this is when burnout occurs.  Also, when the time is right taking some time away from the field of competition so when you arrive at practice or training you arrive with a smile on your face and not dread in your heart.  We play our best when we are having fun… don’t forget the main reason why you fell in love with your sport in the first place.  It was fun.