IT’S OK TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE – WILL YOU USE IT TO IMPROVE?

Why Progress Happens Just Beyond the Comfort Zone

A truly progressive training approach should challenge athletes to step into a constructively uncomfortable environment—one that not only allows mistakes but actually welcomes them as part of the process. This is where learning accelerates, confidence grows, and measurable achievements take shape.

As coaches, our role is to design training that consistently nudges students to operate at the edge of their comfort zone. It’s not about pushing recklessly—it’s about creating a safe, structured space where discipline, focus, and mental strength are tested and developed.

So, how can we help athletes embrace that discomfort and use it to fuel skill growth?

1. Build Trust Through a Positive, Constructive Environment

Athletes won’t take risks if they fear failure will be punished or ridiculed. Trust is built through clear communication, consistent feedback, and a coaching style that corrects without discouraging. When athletes know mistakes are part of the plan, they become more willing to try, fail, and try again.

2. Teach the ‘Why’ Behind the Movement

When students understand how and why a movement is executed—not just what to do—they gain the tools to self-correct. We provide detailed breakdowns, demonstrations, and video resources so they can connect the mechanics to the results. Knowledge creates ownership of improvement.

3. Use a Structured Training System

Random drills lead to random results. A structured, progressive system ensures every session has purpose and direction. Consistency in approach allows us to measure improvement, track growth, and ensure that each layer of skill builds on the last.

4. Match Training to Age & Stage of Development

Confidence comes when the challenge is appropriate. Overload too soon, and frustration sets in; keep it too easy, and progress stalls. We align our drills and expectations with each athlete’s developmental stage so they feel stretched but not overwhelmed.

5. Promote Accountability & Self-Correction

Our ultimate goal is to help students become their own best coach. By promoting disciplined habits—like checking stance structure, adjusting movement patterns, and reflecting on execution—we build athletes who can recognize and fix their own mistakes in real time.

6. Keep the Long Game in Mind

Progress is rarely a straight line. We remind athletes (and ourselves) that meaningful skill development takes time, patience, and consistent support. Every rep, every adjustment, every uncomfortable moment is a brick in the foundation of future performance.

Bottom line:
Discomfort in training isn’t something to avoid—it’s something to embrace. The edge of the comfort zone is where the mind sharpens, the body adapts, and athletes discover what they’re truly capable of. As coaches, our job is to guide them there—and give them the tools to keep going when it gets hard.