Athletes told success starts with mindset

If athletes in Barbados apply the same mindset West Indies used years ago when they ruled the cricket world, then many of them would be in a great position also to dominate their respective sports.

This was the view expressed by president of the Barbados Amateur Weightlifting Association, Andrew Callender, who said that athletes and not just weightlifters need to apply the basics in their respective sporting disciplines.

“The West Indies used to dominate cricket in the world. Did we have fantastic facilities, no, so what made us great? Did we have the ultimate in cricket pitches? No, but we had a good mindset, a good determination and when we were given the chance to bowl on a good pitch we took great advantage of it,” Callender said.

The veteran coach who has worked with many of Barbados’ top weightlifters explained that it was all about mindset. He advised all athletes to think outside the box and be practical in their solutions.

In fact, Callender added that he was not one for training camps and noted that while competition was good to develop the athlete, he emphasised the need to have the right mindset.

“In cricket you can get a little screw, screw it into the ball, hang it from your garage or a tree in the yard and you can practise your strokes. You can get the same cricket ball and bowl it in the grass and get your action right. All the things you are lacking you can work on now, “ Callender explained.

He also referenced Empire Cricket Club that has produced numerous Test players for Barbados as a perfect example when it came to players adopting the right mindset.

“The most Test players coming out of one club does come from Bank Hall, Barbados. That should say something. Do we need equipment, do we need this, do we need the next? Yes, you need them but if you teach them first and foremost that whatever it is you have you care about, you care what you have first that when you come and put on your good stuff you don’t look like a goat.

“Even if you can’t go to the beach and practise, you can own your skills at home. You can Google stuff, teach yourself on the internet. Some of the stuff the coaches might be telling you, when you check it on the internet might resonate a little more in your head and you go forward, “ he added.

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