What separates good athletes from great ones?
In our latest Championship Habits webinar, we sat down with Tori Hanna—four-time NCAA national champion at Maryland, former team captain, USA Lacrosse board member, and now coach and mentor—to unpack the habits, mindset, and trends shaping today’s athletes.
From youth sports development to elite performance, here are the biggest takeaways every coach, parent, and athlete should know.
The Mindset That Builds Champions
Tori’s journey didn’t start with wins. In fact, she never won a high school lacrosse game.
So what got her recruited—and eventually led to four national titles?
“My willingness to work hard and out-hustle everyone is what set me apart.”
Key Insight:
- Effort is the ultimate differentiator
- Skills can be coached—but mentality cannot be manufactured
Championship Habit #1:
✅ Relentless effort, even when no one is watching
Why Multi-Sport Athletes Win Long-Term
One of the strongest themes from the conversation was clear:
Early specialization in youth sports is doing more harm than good.
The Problem
- Increased risk of burnout
- Higher likelihood of overuse injuries
- Limited development of overall athleticism
The Advantage of Multi-Sport Play
Tori emphasized that playing multiple sports:
- Builds complementary skills (e.g., basketball footwork → lacrosse defense)
- Improves mental resilience
- Keeps sports fun and sustainable
Championship Habit #2:
✅ Play multiple sports and develop a complete athlete
The Parent’s Role in Athlete Development
For parents guiding young athletes, the biggest mistake is simple:
Wanting it more than the child does.
What Great Support Looks Like
- Provide opportunities and structure
- Encourage—but don’t force
- Let the athlete own their development
Signals an Athlete Is Ready for the Next Level:
- Practices on their own without being told
- Seeks improvement outside of team training
- Shows intrinsic motivation
Championship Habit #3:
✅ Build self-driven athletes, not externally pressured ones
5 Actionable Skills to Elevate Your Game
Tori broke down the most important habits athletes can start TODAY:
1. Master Your Stick Skills
- Develop consistency under pressure
- Make fundamentals automatic
2. Build Endurance
- Can you perform at full speed for the entire game?
- Conditioning is a competitive edge
3. Train Explosiveness
- First-step quickness matters more than raw speed
- Helps in both offense and defense
4. Be Deceptive
- Keep opponents guessing
- Movement without the ball wins games
5. Dictate—Don’t React (Especially on Defense)
- Control positioning
- Force attackers into uncomfortable decisions
Championship Habit #4:
✅ Train both physical skills and game intelligence daily
What Coaches Actually Look for at Tryouts
When evaluating athletes, Tori emphasized intangibles over stats.
Top Traits That Stand Out:
1. Effort Without Supervision
- Hustling to drills
- Jogging on and off the field
- Competing in every rep
2. Coachability
- Can they apply feedback immediately?
3. Team Impact
- Do they lift others up?
- Are they genuine teammates?
“It’s easier to teach skills than it is to teach someone to be a great teammate.”
Championship Habit #5:
✅ Be the teammate everyone wants on their team
Leadership: You Don’t Need a Title to Lead
Leadership isn’t about being named captain.
It’s about:
- Reading teammates emotionally
- Knowing when to push—and when to support
- Celebrating small wins
Even at the highest level, Tori emphasized:
“Everyone can be a leader.”
The #1 Confidence Strategy Before Tryouts
Tryouts bring pressure—but Tori shared a simple system to stay grounded:
Find Your “Sources of Confidence”
Focus on what you can control, such as:
- Effort (hustle on every play)
- Communication (use your voice constantly)
“Build confidence from things you 100% control.”
Championship Habit #6:
✅ Anchor confidence in controllable actions
The Future of Athlete Development: Data + Intangibles
Tori also highlighted the growing role of data in sports—from performance tracking to player evaluation.
But she made one thing clear:
- Data should inform decisions—not replace human judgment
- Coaches still decide based on team chemistry, intangibles, and fit
Final Takeaway: Excellence Is Built Daily
Championship athletes aren’t defined by highlight plays—they’re defined by daily habits:
- Effort
- Consistency
- Team-first mindset
- Coachability
- Love for the game
🎥 Watch the Full Webinar
Want to hear all of Tori Hanna’s insights firsthand?
👇 Watch the full conversation here:
✅ Ready to Level Up Your Tryouts and Player Evaluation?
At TeamGenius, we help coaches make smarter, data-driven decisions—while still capturing the intangibles that build great teams.
- Evaluate athletes more fairly
- Track performance and development
- Build stronger, more cohesive teams
👉 Learn more about TeamGenius and start running better tryouts today
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