article by C.J. Aragon,
2010 NIRA Coach-of-the-Year, Odessa College Rodeo Coach
As a coach I always get asked what I think students need to be ready to be on a college team. After many years of coaching and keeping notes from meetings here is a list of things I think students need to be aware of to step up to college level competition. They are in no particular order…
1. Set goals and work towards them. This will be your roadmap to success. If you don’t have goals you are just dreaming of being good. You hear it all the time for good reason, setting goals works.
2. Stay focused at practice. Just showing up to practice is not enough. Have a plan and use practice to improve every day. Your goals should be directly tied to your focus at practice.
3. Challenge yourself at practice. You will see bigger improvements when you challenge yourself daily. Don’t just run the good cattle or get on rough stock you know you can ride. Challenge yourself in practice.
4. Don’t be the one whining about practice or coaches. If you have the opportunity to practice make the most of it, there are others who would love to be in your place. Utilize your coaches and practice opportunities.
5. Go to bed before midnight. Get your rest. Go to class and practice charged up and ready to go to work. If you want to be a professional cowboy this is your job, treat it as one.
6. Don’t be the students who only practice hard the day or a few days before a rodeo. You will not make improvements practicing the just a day or two before a competition. You will see better results if the work is done months and weeks in advance.
7. Give 100% in practice. If you are not giving 100% in practice you are wasting your practice and taking practice time away from others. Practice as intense as you compete.
8. Drinking and partying. A lot of talented athletes are beat before they ever step inside the arena because of their drinking and partying habits. You may think it doesn’t affect you, someday you will realize you are wrong.
9. Quit worrying about your competitors. Go to the rodeo and take care of your business, don’t worry about everyone else’s.
10. Students who only work on their strengths in practices. Work on every aspect of your event or events not just your strengths. Be aware of your weaknesses and improve them.
11. Don’t make excuses. If you didn’t do well figure it out, make adjustments and improve. Excuses do not help you improve.
12. Not going to class. For high school and college students this is a must. Take care of your business in the classroom so that you can compete at the rodeos.
13. Students need to take constructive criticism from the coach/parent well. Instead you believe you are getting picked on. Coaches and parents want to see you do well, they are trying to help you be your best. Be coachable.
14. Skipping practices and taking days off. Make sure your work ethic is on the same level as your goals. At some point your actions speak louder than words or goals you have. Your actions should be on par with your goals.
15. Don’t be the one going to rodeos for the social aspect. If you are going to the rodeo to hang out with friends and make a social event of your trip, YOU are the added money.
16. Believe what other contestants tell you about your draw. Keep your own list, watch the start for yourself, and watch the stock for yourself. Keep your own list, do your own homework.
17. You should not expect to do something at a rodeo that you haven’t already done in practice. Don’t expect to do things at a rodeo that you can’t do, or are not willing to do in practice. Do great things in the practice pen and you will start to see great things happen at rodeos. Dream big and practice hard to get there.
18. You need to spend time in the weight room. You are an athlete and if you want to be at the top of your game you need to treat yourself as one. There are benefits for you no matter what event you compete in.
19. Don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend that distracts you from your goals. Just don’t let this be you.
20. Learn time management skills. Learn to manage your time and run a schedule. Classes, Practice, Work, Gym, Sleep and anything else on your schedule need to managed and prioritized. Set your priorities and manage your time well.
To be a valuable asset to a rodeo program you will need to contribute to the team. Hopefully this list will help.
C.J. Aragon was named the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Grand Canyon Region Coach-of-the-Year. 2014, 2015 WJCAC Coach-of-the-Year and 2010 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Coach-of-the-Year.
