TYPES OF ATHLETES- INTEGRITY
There are really only 2 types of Athletes when it comes to Integrity; those who have it and those who don’t. This topic has been discussed many times in the world of CrossFit via blog, the discussion board and even amongst yourselves after a workout. And some of you may say, “Well who really cares, because again, that person is just cheating themselves and their results.” Take for instance our Saturday team workouts: who would you want on your team, someone you trust, someone who will do their best ever, someone with integrity.
Dawn Fletcher has an M.A. in Kinesiology with a focus on Sport Psychology and did a great job at identifying the 2 types of Crossfitters. Those with integrity and those without.
What type of athlete are you? Are you okay with it?
Type I Athletes: Fully commit to whatever the WOD is for them for that day, whether it is on-ramp, Fundamentals or CrossFit.
Type II “Athletes”: Complain about a movement or 2 in a WOD, try to modify, or tone-up/tone-down their WOD & quickly identify movements that ‘suck’.
Type I Athletes: Complete an extra couple of double-unders, pull-ups or wall balls when they have lost count or think they may have missed a couple of full reps.
Type II “Athletes”: Think that when they mess up at 48 double unders, it is ‘good enough’ & move to the next exercise before finishing the last 2 reps, or are okay with not getting their chin over the bar on the final hard rep.
Type I Athletes: Work up to the buzzer, even if it means they will only get 20 meters of the next 200 m run because there is only 10 seconds left.
Type II “Athletes”: Finish the round they are currently on and lay down with a little time remaining on the clock.
Type I Athletes: Never ever would consider lying, not even 1 single rep when the coach asks “how many did you get” before writing the score on the whiteboard.
Type II “Athletes”: Justify lying that they got an extra rep, an extra round or lifted a few more pounds because they think “they could have, or should have” or don’t want to look bad.
Type I Athletes: Ask their coach to closely judge them, give them pointers and makes necessary adjustments when given a ‘no rep’ call for not getting full depth on a squat.
Type II “Athletes”: Roll their eyes at a coach for correctly judging them, scoring them, or giving pointers on how to get full reps. They try to ignore the coach, hide from the view of a coach and continue to ‘sneak’ through bad reps.
I like this quote from a CrossFit Board Post:
“Counting your reps accurately means judging yourself honestly – and moving forward from that point. Integrity is learning about a deeper gratification – a soul-leveled fulfillment, if you will. Integrity is doing what is in the highest good, not just what you might personally want. It’s calling a penalty on yourself when it’s warranted. It’s taking pride in your final score, no matter what it is. Be true to CrossFit, be true to your box, but most of all be true to yourself.”
Love this motto, and think it’s worth living by: “I will never cheat reps, cut corners or finish early…no matter how bad I may want to, I deserve better than that”. Commit today to your coach, your workout buddies, your box and yourself. Those of you who are already Type I Athletes… keep rocking on.
I have been noticing more and more corners being cut (yes cheating) – its easy to justify to get a better score – please don’t continue the pattern. Trust me us coaches notice and so do your fellow athletes. Integrity is something that can be put to practice. Commit to it when you walk through these doors.
HOPE THIS INSPIRES SOME OF YOU!!!