Courage, selection courage

Something that is pretty fun and easy to do is to give other people advice. You love it, dishing out truth, sharing your tips. It’s great.

Especially when they’re in a tough spot and you happen to be chilling there too. Pretty easy to give, a fair bit harder to take.


That’s exactly where I found myself last Saturday morning. In a mighty nervous circle of over 100 U24 athletes, telling them they should be brave. First thing at the selection camp, I’m rolling out the ‘be brave’ advice. Even though roughly 40% of them were not going to achieve a frisbee dream as a result of the weekend’s selection. “Be brave,” I said, not just “be brave”, but also “find times to celebrate your courage when you notice it. It’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re in a struggle.”


I’ve been reading a book. Now, I’m telling everyone about it. I’m also using the tips from it to try and help frisbee players.


I’m saying ‘celebrate your courage’, because I think it’s a good message. The book seems compelling.

But, I’m also saying it to people who may be just doing some good old fashioned self protection. It’s very hard to wholly admit that you truely want to achieve something. It’s hard because you can open right up to the pain of disappointment when you do make that statement to yourself, or others.


There are some great ablative options that people take to insulate themselves from that admission and associated pain. In the lead up to this selection event I heard a few: “I don’t think I’m in contention, I’m just going for the experience.” “It’s a great chance to play top frisbee for a weekend, I’m not thinking about it as a selection.”


These can be true statements, and I understand the motivation, I’ve felt it myself. Perhaps most have. It takes courage to commit with a full heart and I’m always impressed when I see athletes, or people in general, who are able to do that. Across the selection weekend I clearly saw people play with courage and more powerfully, I watched people passionately pursue their frisbee ambition.


The Australian U24 teams will be announced later in the week. Another test of courage for those players desperately waiting to hear if it’s joy or pain for them this time. Either way, I hope they’re proud of the bravery they’ve shown to themselves and to the people around them. Respect.