Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36IJGA has a long track record of develop- ing junior champions. We have done this through teaching juniors not only how to swing a club, but how to score on a golf course, how to behave off the course and the importance of academics. We believe in developing well-rounded human beings who happen to also be good at golf! With that in mind, see if you’re on your way to possessing the following traits of a true champion. HARD WORK AND PARTICIPATION: Noth- ing reflects a champion like a student who works hard. This doesn’t always mean put- ting in a lot of time – it is quality over quan- tity! At the University of New Mexico , where I played collegiate golf, our practice sessions were always well thought out, maximizing our practice time so that we could work hard and perform our best. It goes without saying that participation is key – that means golf, performance training, mental training, aca- demics and tournament competition. ACCOUNTABILITY: To be successful, you must hold yourself accountable to your training plan, to your studies and to the process! Without accountability we see a lot of excuses, and excuses only lead to disap- pointment! ABILITY TO FOCUS: This goes back to qual- ity versus quantity. Do you think that four hours of mediocre unfocused practice beats two hours of focused practice? No. Knowing your limits and following your training plan allows you to maximize focus and perfor- mance. This holds true when you get into a tournament competition as well. One small slip of focus in a tournament can lead to a big number! ADAPTABILITY: Champions always show an ability to adapt! There are many things LearnEarlytheTraitsofaChampionBY RYLEY HENDRY WHO WE ARE The mission of Bishops Gate Golf Academy is to develop master is to develop mastery, autonomy and purpose in our players to create a new generation of student athletes who have excellence of character and skill. thrown at student athletes, whether it is a pop quiz or bad weather at a tournament. Those who can adapt to change always come out on top. WILLINGNESS TO LEARN: This is a big one – individuals who continually learn and improve themselves are able to maximize their knowledge and skills. Those who think they know everything miss out on a lot of development opportunities. CURIOUS DESIRE: Champions ask a lot of questions. They constantly approach oth- ers for advice and they tend to read and/or watch a lot of videos. It could be watching others perform, studying swing videos or reading books about mental training or what it takes to be a golf champion. TIME MANAGEMENT: Time management is a key factor for success. Champions are very organized; they plan, create lists and managetheirtimesothattheycompletethe needed tasks. Time management is not only about your practice schedule, but school studies and a balanced school/training/fun routine. Sometimes it’s helpful to utilize lists to help you through this process. SELF-SUFFICIENCY: Learning self-suffi- ciency is a must for any champion. You must get to knowyourgolfgame andyourtenden- cies so that you can change them oradapt in the middle of a round or practice. We want our students to have the knowledge, the de- sireandthecouragetomakechoicesintheir life that will help them along their path. ATTITUDE: The most important attribute of all is attitude. Nothing marks a champion more than a positive attitude! At a time when your life is changing and you are be- coming an adult, this can be a challenge, but the true champion perseveres and puts that positive attitude to work! Ryley Hendry is the CEO of the International Junior Golf Academy. She was a collegiate golfer at the University of New Mexico. Visit Interna- tional Junior Golf Academy at www.ijga.com.