We often think of rodeo as an individual sport: cowgirl versus the clock, fastest time wins. Cowboy versus the animal, highest score wins. While it is the fastest time and the highest score that wins, the long journey to become a successful rodeo athlete is far from a lone endeavor. When we consider how many bumps there are along the rodeo trail, it would be some sort of miracle to make it completely on your own steam.
Can you train safely & effectively, eat the right foods, treat your own own injuries, exist in the right headspace, AND maintain happy personal and professional lives all on your own? That’s a lot of weight to carry solo and you may be missing a key opportunity to be better, which is why creating a tight and trusted team around you is vital.
Who’s on Your Team?
Each competitor has unique characteristics and demands to their individual events, so you’ll need to create the team that works for your personal situation. Throughout your career, you will lean on different members of your team at different times, and you may add or subtract people from your circle.
Family
The unwavering support, encouragement, and understanding from loved ones play an important role in your success. The love shown by parents, siblings, and extended family members can ignite a fire within you, pushing you to overcome challenges and strive for greatness.
Travelling Partners
Having close friends who understand the demands and sacrifices of pursuing these goals provides a sense of camaraderie and solidarity, creating a support system that is both uplifting and empowering.
Sport Med
The network of caregivers of the Canadian Pro Rodeo Sport Medicine Team can be crucial to the longevity of your career and life after the sport. We are here to help prevent injuries, to assess, treat and help you recover from your current injuries, and refer you on for further attention as needed. We can be your first stop when you aren’t sure where to seek help.
Strength Coach
A reputable strength and conditioning coach can tailor your strength routine to your needs and goals. Improved strength, flexibility, mobility, and motor control helps to enhance your performance and is key to recovering physically from injury.
Dietician
If you believed every piece of nutrition advice you saw you would only drink water. Taking advice from a trusted source can help eliminate the noise and give you the personalized guidance you need to help you succeed.
Sport Psychologist/Mental Performance Coach
This crucial member of your team can help in so many ways including helping you cope with the pressure of competition, develop more focus, improve mental toughness, and help you perform your best.
Mentors
There’s nothing like the help of someone who has been there before. Seasoned mentors can share insights gained from their own journeys, helping you navigate challenges, setbacks, and successes with their perspective.
Sponsors
It’s especially rewarding to share the successes with the people who believed in you long before it happened. Keeping the communication flowing can help these relationships flourish.
The role of a trusted and strong team consisting of supportive family, friends, mentors, sponsors & health care professionals cannot be underestimated in your life. Take some time and think about it: who do you have on your team?
