Practice? Practice? We Talkin’ ‘Bout Practice.

Allen Iverson’s famous press conference is legendary. But if you actually watch it, it’s kind of tragic. He was frustrated, exhausted, and emotionally drained. The media kept hammering him about practice while he was dealing with the death of a close friend.

Still, the clip is catchy for a reason.

Because here’s the truth: Practice is where the real game is won or lost.

As a baseball player, you’ll spend way more time practicing than actually playing games. If you don’t find a way to enjoy practice — or at least connect with it meaningfully — your time in the game will be limited.

My father told me something when I was a kid complaining about doing chores: “You’re worried about washing the dishes being fun? Make them fun!”

I’ve thought about that for 40 years. As with so many things, I eventually realized… he was right.

The Fun of Practice Isn’t Always Obvious

You have to find your reason to love the work.

• I practiced with a massive chip on my shoulder. I used anger as fuel, but never let it leak into my performance.

• My eldest son has a hunter’s spirit — he practices like he’s stalking prey, sharpening his “shot.”

• My second son is like me — he practices with vengeance.

• My third son is calm and collected — he practices to bring joy and reliability to his teammates.

• My fourth son simply loves the feeling of getting better. He works because he loves what the work represents.

Everyone is wired differently. The key is discovering what lights your fire.

Success at the next level doesn’t come from what you do only during formal training sessions. It comes from all the extra reps you put in on your own — in the backyard, at the field, in your mind. I can design great training, but it’s worthless if you don’t actually do the work when I’m not around.

So, avoid beating yourself up or nagging the player with the question, “do you practice?”

Instead, we’ll focus on the player learning their answer to, “Have you found your love of practice?”

Because the players who go the farthest aren’t just the most talented. They’re the ones who figured out how to make practice something they look forward to.