The Standard

It's no secret I'm a big hockey guy. (Let's Go CANES!)

The other day I was watching Faceoff: Inside the NHL (Amazon Prime docu-series) and Matthew Tkachuk talked about something his father Keith used to tell him and his brother Brady growing up:

"Skate hard and be a good teammate."

Two things. Simple advice that helped shape two NHL careers all the way to two Stanley Cup's and Olympic Gold Medals.

It stuck with me immediately. So I re-tooled it for what I do:

"Work hard and be a good teammate."

I call this The Standard.

I've been saying it to my swimmers lately. They're good kids, still learning — they fuss at each other when someone messes up, point fingers after a lost relay, get frustrated when things don't go their way. That's part of growing up in sports!

But here's the thing, it's not just a lesson for kids... It's a good reminder for us adults.

I've seen the same dynamics play out in Golf foursomes, tennis and pickleball doubles partners, beer-league hockey teams, masters swim groups, even polo and equestrian teams. The sport changes. The team dynamic doesn't.

The Standard cuts through all the BS we tell ourselves when life and team dynamics get tough. You have to be willing to go to the wall for your teammate(s).

Simple? Yes. Easy? Absolutely not.

It's probably the hardest, most valuable combination to sustain — in life and in sport.

Work Hard and Be a Good Teammate.

Coach Wes | Creator, APX MVMT Method

Move. Improve. Repeat.

The APX MVMT Method is built on the lessons learned from the Gambetta Athletic Improvement Network (GAIN), OPEX Fitness, Active Life Professional, and over a decade of coaching.