Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.
Facebook Youtube Instagram Linkedin Pinterest
Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Linkedin Pinterest

Focus and Tenacity: Competing at Your Best with Candace Vering

CoachesEducatorsParents

Youth sports provide young athletes the opportunity to learn lessons that shape their character for the rest of their lives. It’s a unique testing ground that strengthens an individual’s sense of self and helps cement their values in and outside of a sport setting.

Former USA Volleyball National Team member and TrueSport Ambassador Candace Vering is the product of a positive sport environment. From the youth level through her time on Team USA, her experience taught her how to focus and remain tenacious when it came to setting and achieving her goals.

Candace Vering playing indoor volleyball
Credit: The Daily Newspaper

“Early on, my parents were so encouraging, and I was lucky they always supported me. They were always telling me they were proud of me no matter if I won or lost a match, and they never put any extra pressure on me to win a game or to even play.

They were the ones who first taught me that I had a choice with how I was going to react to any situation. They were a huge influence on the attitude that I had and the type of teammate that I became, because I learned that trying your best, having a good attitude, and having fun were the most important things. That never changed, even as I went from high school to college to Team USA…they were always telling me to remain positive.”

Vering grew up on both the volleyball and tennis courts as her parents were active recreational athletes. She joined her first volleyball team in the third grade, giving her a first taste of teamwork. It was that comradery on the court that drew Vering to pursue volleyball in high school and college. But the transition from high school to collegiate-level sport wasn’t easy.

“Going from playing in high school to playing in college was a really challenging time for me. I remember feeling really overwhelmed at first because there was so much that I had to learn. The speed of the game was a lot faster. I had to learn completely new passing movements and new defense systems right away. I was also expected to get stronger physically in order to last in those five set matches. And, that was just the first couple of weeks in college!”

Candace Vering emotional after volleyball game with teamThe challenge of being thrown into a completely new environment at the University of Washington didn’t only effect Vering’s physical conditioning, it also took a toll on her mental game and the confidence she had on the court.

“I remember doubting whether I could even keep up and play at the college level. But I’d always had a positive attitude and I was going to work hard no matter what. I focused on the goals that my coaches gave me and took it one day at a time. By doing that, I started to rebuild my confidence on the court, and I ended up having a really fun time in college and having a great college career.”

Vering’s hard work and consistent performances in college soon earned her a spot on Team USA…an experience that once again pushed her to become a better player, teammate, and leader.

“Playing on the national team was an incredible opportunity. I was really excited to not only be in the gym with the best of the best, but I got to learn from all these new teammates and new coaches.

Candace Vering as captain of Team USA owmens indoor volleyballAll of them were great leaders on their college teams – there were a lot of vocal leaders, but there were also the leaders, like me, who like to lead by example. But all of us had the same passion, we all wanted to get better, so by focusing on how to be good teammates to each other, we were all able to mesh together and find different ways to lead on the court.”

The singular focus and tenacity that Vering honed during her time in college helped her work through the pressure when it mattered most.

“In college, I learned not to look sideways, which meant not to compare myself to the other liberos or to the other players. I just needed to stay in my lane and focus on the goals that they [my coaches] had put in front of me.

If I could take it one day at a time and try to improve just a little bit each day, I would definitely make progress. That advice helped me persevere even through the times when I felt like I wasn’t performing that well.”

Even as an elite athlete, it’s impossible to perform at your best all the time, but the beauty of sport is that it makes athletes stronger – physically and mentally, on the court and off, and in the short-term and long-term.

“Sport has always taught me the importance of preparation in order to bring my best game to the court. If I really did my best to prepare – mentally, emotionally, and physically, and I gave my best effort every time I stepped onto that court, then I could leave a match having no regrets.

Through sports, I’ve also learned that mental toughness, focus, tenacity – all of those are so important in every single other area of your life.

You’re going to struggle at work, you’re going to struggle in school, and it’s going to be up to you to choose how you’re going to push through those situations and what attitude you’re going to choose to have when it comes to being in a tough situation.”

Candace Vering sitting with children holding TrueSport beachballs

As Vering’s role has transitioned from athlete to parent of a young athlete, her perspective on sport remains the same.

“I’d remind young athletes that sports will always have its ups and downs, and it’s the athletes that push through those tough times, those are the kids that are going to make the most improvement, make the most progress, and end up reaching their goals.

I would also encourage kids to realize that setbacks are just another time to learn and grow. And, if they can see failure as an opportunity to learn, then they can stay positive and keep pushing through every single tough time that comes their way.”

Related Content

Loading...
1 2 … 13

Join Us

Subscribe
Shop TrueSport
Host TrueSport

TrueSport logo without icon in white.

© 2024 TrueSport | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Sitemap

Goal-Setting Lesson Video Transcript

Hi. I’m Trevon, Trey, Jennifer. Team USA wheelchair basketball player, paralympian, and true sport athlete. Today, I want to talk to you about goal setting. And there are three things that I would like you to know. First, successful athletes set goals and a planned roadmap. Second, goals should be written down, assessed over time, and changed if necessary. And third, goals need to be challenging in order to be worthwhile. As a freshmen at Edinboro University, I was a part of a team that made the national championship game. And at that time I recognized I was the low man on the totem pole, but I felt in my heart that I knew my dreams were so much bigger than winning a national title. I wanted to make Team USA. I knew what achieving my lofty goal was not going to be easy and that I would need to work hard every day.

So, as a reminder, I created a pyramid of goals that I kept right above my bed. This pyramid reminded me of the accomplishments that I was working towards and visually represented my need to create a solid foundation underneath me before reaching the top. In the bottom roll of my pyramid of goals I listed goals such as obtaining my bachelor’s degree, becoming a scholar athlete award recipient, and becoming an All-American. The middle row listed winning a national title and playing for a professional team. And at the top row, the most challenging of them all, I listed becoming a gold medalist for Team USA.

By understanding that there are smaller stepping stones to achieving my ultimate goal of being on Team USA, I was able to stay motivated and to stay focused on completing the smaller stepping stones fully before moving onto the next one. Now I’ll be the first to admit that not every goal that I listed on my pyramid was accomplished, but seeing my goals every day when I went to bed, I was able to push through the days that I felt like doing nothing in hopes of achieving the bigger picture. Remember, create a clear goal roadmap, assess your goals often, and continue to challenge yourself. I hope that you never stopped dreaming big or reaching for the stars. And I look forward to seeing where your roadmap takes you.

Body Image Lesson Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Kara Winger, Olympic javelin thrower, and true sport athlete. Today I want to talk to you about body image and I have three things I’d like you to know. First, healthy thoughts often lead to healthier bodies. Second, there are varying body types and no one’s body is exactly like another. And third, true beauty goes deeper than the skin. As a multi-time Olympian, I’ve experienced a lot of variation and progression in my training. My coaches and I adapt to my training frequently, all with the goal of supporting my long-term success and health in the sport of javelin. I’m talking to you about body image today because sometimes even with the best of intentions and a common goal in mind, the changes you make to your training habits can prove to be detrimental if made for the wrong reasons. In the lead up to the 2012 Olympic trials, I was told in order to improve my performance on the field, I should try to become a leaner, skinnier version of myself.

So I changed my diet. I went along with what I was being told to do, even though I’d had great success at a slightly heavier weight and higher body fat percentage, and became much leaner than ever before. It seemed like a successful change at first, but I didn’t have nearly the results I’d had before. And I believe becoming leaner than my body naturally wanted to be was what caused my ACL to tear. In the end, it cost me heavily going into the 2012 London games. The takeaway for me, and hopefully for you, is that it’s important to know what works for you and your body and to not compare yourself to others. You should do your research and experiment with your diet to find what makes you feel the best, rather than focusing on what you look like. Today, if I feel like having a chocolate chip cookie, I have one, just not every day.

I’ve learned what a properly balanced meal for my body looks like and I recognize food as the fuel that keeps me throwing. I hydrate and allow myself time to recover. And I listen to and communicate with my body so that I can be the best version of myself. In the end, you are in control of how you see, treat, and respond to your body. We only get one and it’s amazing to discover how many things our bodies can do. Be a true sport athlete. Love who you are in this moment and get excited for all the places your body will take you.

A Good Sport Lesson Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Izy Isaksen, Team USA, Modern Pentathlon, Olympian, US Army Sergeant, and True Sport Ambassador. Today, I want to talk to you about being a good sport. There are three things I’d like you to know. First, real winners act the same toward their opponent, whether they win or lose. Second, follow the rules and be a gracious winner and respectful loser. And third, sportsmanship reveals your true character.

I started competing in Modern Pentathlon eight years after my older sister and three-time Olympian, Margaux Isaksen, began competing. I soon realized that people often compared the two of us. I would overhear spectators and teammates asking, “Who’s the better athlete,” and “Who’s going to beat the other.” Instead of letting outside pressures create a negative experience for us, I chose to practice winning and losing with grace and respect. I know that it would have been easy to let our hyper competitive mindset affect our relationship, but instead we decided to support and cheer for each other, regardless of our own performance. My experience of competing against and being compared to my older sister, taught me to focus on how to perform at my best, rather than putting wasted energy into wishing for others to fail.

I believe that sportsmanship reveals true character. So, no matter what situation I encounter during competition, I know it’s important to always treat people with respect and be a good sport. Remember, be a fierce competitor, find grace in all your victories and losses. And I hope to see you out there.

What Kind of Coach Do You Want to Be? Video Transcript

Edwin Moses: You’re a coach. Maybe what you want is very simple, for everyone to just run in the right direction, score for their own team, to try and try again and again. Maybe you want your athletes to become all stars. You want them to earn trophies, medals, win titles. You want them to reach the highest height their sport allows. And wanting all of that, of course, that’s good. But as every great coach discovers, developing a great athlete means nurturing, nurturing the even greater person within. Truth is, you have even more influence than you know.

You have the ability to affect even deeper change, to take what’s in your hands and do something even more extraordinary. You can be both the coach who provides the skills needed to win the game and the coach who helps them learn and succeed beyond the sport, to become all stars wherever they land in the future, and to enjoy their lives more now, because the confidence and courage they find working with you will stay with them when they need it the most. There are games to be won, lives to change. Coaches have the power to do both.

I’m Edwin Moses, and the lessons I’ve learned through sport have challenged me, guided me, and shaped my life forever. What kind of coach do you want to be?

THE SIMPLE TRUTH: DECODING THE SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

At first glance, dietary supplements look the same. They seem safe and healthy, but just because the label says a product is a dietary supplement, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Unfortunately, you can’t tell whether a product is safe or not just by looking at the label. Most vitamins, minerals, fish oil, and other supplements containing nutrients are probably just fine, but supplements are not evaluated or approved by FDA before they are sold. Although it is rare for vitamins or minerals to be contaminated with drugs, there has been at least one case of a vitamin containing an anabolic steroid.

At the other extreme are products that contain drugs, stimulants, anabolic steroids, or other hormones. Even though these are not technically dietary supplements, many of them are labeled as supplements. For example, body-building products sometimes contain anabolic steroids or Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, known as SARMs, or other hormones. Some pre-workout or energy products contain illegal stimulants like DMAA, ephedra, or other amphetamine-like stimulants. Weight loss products might contain prescription drugs like sibutramine, or hormones, like human chorionic gonadotropin, also known as hCG. All natural or herbal sexual enhancement products might contain hormones or Viagra-like drugs. Products like these can harm your health and career, but they’re for sale online, in some nutrition stores, and they’re labeled as dietary supplements.

When you pick up a supplement, especially one that promises performance enhancement, you don’t know if it belongs in the “Mostly O.K.” pile or in the “Dangerous” pile. After all, two products might look the same, but one might contain just amino acids and other legitimate ingredients, while the other also contains anabolic steroids. Because of this, FDA has issued a warning about certain categories of supplements: body building products, weight loss products, and sexual enhancement products. Be extremely careful when considering a supplement in one of these categories. We strongly recommend that you avoid products in these categories.

Even when FDA tests supplements and finds dangerous ingredients, companies sometimes refuse to recall them. Sometimes, they simply repackage their product and continue selling it under a new name. Just because a product is on a store shelf doesn’t mean it is safe. You need to do your research and be an informed consumer. The dietary supplement industry is enormous. Supplements that appear to be safe could actually be dangerous products in disguise. If you use dietary supplements without doing your research, you may be taking serious risks with your health and your career. Please visit USADA’s Supplement 411 for more information about dietary supplements.