Practice Precedes Success

No matter what Allen Iverson said at his most famous press conference, practice really does matter. Practice? Yes, we’re talking about practice. Whether you’re an aspiring violinist or a beginning writer, this classic form of preparation can be the difference between mediocrity and excellence.

The same is true in sports - practice can either make or break the athlete. And for at least one week, it was the latter for New England Patriots running back Jonas Gray.

No practice, no play

Gray entered his coach’s doghouse less than a week after he shocked the NFL and ran for 201 yards and four touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts. But with the rigorous Bill Belichick at the helm, timing didn’t make a difference. Gray overslept and showed up late to practice. He was sent home and then benched for the entire game a few days later against the Detroit Lions.

“We’re moving past that,” Gray told NESN. “I’m glad we got the team win. I think it would have stung more if I didn’t play and we would have lost the game.”

But it must have stung at least a little bit. Count on Gray having better punctuality down the line.

Play like you practice

Coaches always tell young athletes to practice like you play. But in the case of Odell Beckham Jr., the star rookie wide receiver for the New York Giants, you can safely flip the phrase.

Beckham Jr. has practiced one-handed catches since high school, so it’s no surprise to his coach, Nelson Stewart, that he made a one-handed catch against the Dallas Cowboys that’s being called one of the greatest grabs in NFL history.

When Beckham Jr. first joined Stewart’s team at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, the coach told him to stop catching the ball with one hand, according to the Washington Post. Fundamentals say that players should catch the ball with both hands, of course. However, because even back then Beckham Jr. was so talented and had consistently practiced the technique, his coach made an exception.

“We broke every rule in the book when we said just catch with one hand,” Steward told the Post. “I’m continuing to break that habit with every wannabe Odell in my receiving corps.”

Coaches of young athletes may not want to recommend one-handed catches, but they can still outline good practice routines on sports team websites. This kind of sports software could help the next Beckham Jr. realize their full potential.