OFF SEASON
Session 7: Off Season Reflection
Reflection is one of the cornerstones of growth, and the end of the season is a perfect time to look back. You can assess your efforts throughout the season, recognize both the positives and challenges, and gain clarity for your next steps moving forward. It’s essential to reflect, understand, and step into the offseason or the next chapter feeling unburdened, focused, and present.
“Performance improvement begins with reflection – the mirror that reveals the athlete's journey from every setback to each triumph.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Four P’s Exercise - End of Season Reflection
The Four P’s stand for Personal, Preparation, Practice and Play. These are the cornerstones for athlete awareness, reflection and growth.
The Four P’s Reflection Lenses:
Personal — Reflect on your life outside of sports.
Marriage/Relationship, Family, Friends, Community Involvement, Fun/Recreation, Self-Care, Faith/Religion/Spiritual Growth, Mental Health, Being Mentored/Coached, Etc.
Preparation — Evaluate your readiness, rhythms, and routines before practice and games.
Sleep, Nutrition, Physical Recovery, Video Review, Mental Skills, Emotional Processing, Positional Meetings, Hydration, Injury Prevention, Pre-game Routine, Etc.
Practice — Assess your effort, focus, and improvement during training sessions.
Effort, Intensity, Focus, Technical Improvement, Vocal, Tactical Awareness, Team Player, Adaptability, Consistency, Work Ethic, Leadership, Etc.
Play — Analyze your performance, decision-making, and contributions during games.
Intensity, Focus, Confidence, Creativity, Execution, Support, Decision Making, Positional Discipline, Defensive Effort, Offensive Contribution, Etc.
Instructions:
Choose to fill out the Online form or PDF
Choose your top 8 examples within each lens that you specifically want to reflect on. Feel free to add anything you want that I did not include that will help you.
Score yourself from 1 to 10 (1 = Poor to 10 = Excellent). I highly encourage you to be honest, transparent, and detailed with each part of your reflection.
Write a note or action item for each score, explaining why you gave that score. Anything below an 8 needs attention.
Share your reflection with a coach, mentor, accountability partner, or even me after completion.
This exercise is designed to help you assess where you are at the end of the season, allowing you to reflect on your progress and identify any adjustments needed as you prepare for the offseason or the next phase. It’s a valuable opportunity to gain clarity and make informed decisions moving forward.