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By most interpretations and definitions, accountability refers to an effective blend of responsibility, initiative, and dedication to an overarching goal, purpose, or level of quality. In athletic training, these values are the undeniable building blocks of success. To put in the required physical work, you must hold yourself accountable in all other aspects of the training lifestyle.
Many promising athletes enter the doors of the Parisi Fair Lawn facility looking to get better, maximize their potential, and achieve big goals, but when it comes down to putting these aspirations into action, everything comes down to their level of accountability. My involvement and dedication as a coach are constant; I always say that I will give 100 percent to an athlete’s development toward their goals, and all that leaves is the opportunity for them to reciprocate.
That last part is crucial. It might seem easy, in theory, to remain accountable and dedicated during a training cycle, but as time passes and aspects of the lifestyle become routine, there are many chances to become complacent, lose focus, and find ways to cut corners – either out of over-confidence in the preceding work or a dwindling inherent lack of motivation teased out by that work.
In this sense, accountability is inextricably related to both consistency and vision. Outside the more straightforward exercises and workouts, you should take care to eliminate needless distractions and negative influences, as these pitfalls can quickly cloud your perspective, take emphasis away from crucial training values, and ultimately overcomplicate the already challenging path to success. This approach should spread to all aspects of your in-facility training, nutrition, health and hygiene, and overall behavioral approach.
Develop one key habit early and often: keep your goals front-and-center, and remember that all choices made in the aforementioned fields will, for better or worse, impact your journey toward meeting those goals. A little extra mindfulness can lend itself well to accountability – whether that’s making the right decisions in the kitchen, getting enough sleep, or taking the harder of two paths during a training session.
This concept can seem daunting at first, but also remember a key fundamental fact: regardless of your sport or fitness-based path, you’re doing this because you enjoy it and inevitably care about it. So lean into those morals, put your head down, and get the job done. The results might change your life.
