Untied shoelaces, water bottles, and other small things that can ruin your dream (if you let them)

 „They all came for me. But where was I?”

Picture this: the gym is full.

In one corner, the coach of the team you’ve been dreaming to join is sitting, quietly watching. Next to him — a well-dressed woman who doesn’t look like a sports fan but watches carefully. A sponsor, maybe? In the stands, there’s that girl or boy from school you’ve had a crush on for six months. You’ve never had the courage to talk, but here they are.

Everyone is here. And someone else is, too: you. On the court. Or… almost.

Because right then - your shoelace comes undone. You can’t catch your breath. Nothing seems to work. And suddenly:

– You forgot your water bottle

– You overhydrated and feel heavy

– Your lucky wristband is missing

– Your warmup was half-hearted

– Your mind is somewhere else

Everything feels against you. Ever wondered why?

Maybe the better question is: what could I have done before this?

They all came for me. But where was I?

1. You showed up without the full gear

You arrive at the gym. Big day. You look around, take a deep breath, and smile.

And then… you feel something’s off.

– Where are your shoes?

– Got your water bottle?

– Your wristband?

– Your non-slip socks?

Oops. None of them. You came to the game like it’s a picnic.

You’re not the first, or the last. People have tied shoelaces with string, played in street shoes, borrowed someone else’s bottle (let’s hope it’s isotonic). Everything can be fixed, right?

Well… not really.

Because gear isn’t just stuff you bring.

It’s your first win of the day: showing up prepared.

It may seem like a small detail - but it’s not. Forgetting your shoes or your water doesn’t just mean discomfort. It means you didn’t have a plan. It means you left your dream moment to luck.

And in sports - just like in life - small things are actually a test:

Are you focused? Are you serious? Are you ready?

If you don’t care about what’s in your bag… how can you care about what’s happening on the court?

2. You scrolled instead of getting in the zone

You got to the gym 20 minutes early or 60. Nice. Smooth. Plenty of time.

So, what do you do?

Do you get dressed, stretch a little, breathe, lock in mentally?

Ha. No.You grab your phone.

Scroll. Like. Reply. Quick meme.

„On my way to practice 😎” sent to your group chat.

Scroll again. TikTok. “Only 10 seconds.”

Coach walks in. Time’s up.

You’ve got 40 minutes of practice or game time. And every minute you waste at the start is one less assist, one less shot, one less step toward getting better.

Because it’s not just about warming up your body. It’s about activating your mind. Preparing your focus.Tuning out the noise and locking into the mission.

Your phone is fun, but it won’t help your pass. It won’t fix your shot. It won’t get you in sync with your team.

The best athletes get in the zone before they step on the court.

Do you?

3. You drank water like you just crossed a desert

You walk into the gym. Still time before practice. Teammates aren’t all here. Coach isn’t out yet. So… you grab your bottle. And drink. A lot.

One sip. Then another. Then… a few more. Just in case.„Hydration is good, right?”

Five minutes later, warm-up starts. But you feel heavy. Bloated. Your breath’s short. Your stomach is full. And you have no idea what’s going on.

“I rested. I drank water. I came early… Why can’t I run?”

Because yes - hydration is important. But how and when you hydrate matters just as much.

You’re not supposed to flood your system right before moving.Overhydration compresses your diaphragm, reduces your lung capacity, slows you down.

Sports performance starts hours before the game.

Sometimes with just one bottle too many - and the wrong sip at the wrong time.

4. You got bored on the bench and lost focus

You came to the game. But you're on the bench. Not starting. Not what you hoped for. You sit down. Towel on your knees. And then… your mind starts talking:

“Why didn’t coach put me in?”

“That guy isn’t better than me.”

“Coach just has favorites.”

“Whatever. I’m having a bad day anyway.”

Five… ten… fifteen minutes go by. You're half-watching the game, half sulking in your head. Maybe you clap once or twice. Maybe you even sneak a quick scroll. Then - boom - you hear your name:

“YOU’RE IN! Get ready!”

You stand up… but your body is cold. Your mind is distracted. And - of course - your shoelace betrays you.

Was it bad luck? No. It was lack of presence. Lack of preparation.

The bench is not a break. It’s not your “pause button.” It’s the mental warm-up zone. Where you study, breathe, stay sharp, get ready - like your moment is always about to come.

If you don’t believe your moment is coming… why should your coach believe it?

And when it finally comes - and you’re not ready - you just proved them right.

5. You forgot your role and tried to be the MVP

You get subbed in. Finally. Your heart’s pounding. This is it — your moment!

First play: instead of passing to the open teammate, you take a wild shot. Miss.

Next: you try a solo steal. Late.

Then: you go coast-to-coast like it’s a highlight reel. Turnover.

What just happened?

Simple: you forgot the game. You wanted a show. You wanted to prove yourself. To show you belong. But the need to shine… dimmed your game.

In sports - just like in life - there are moments when the best thing you can do is:

• a good pass

• a solid screen

• a smart defensive rotation

• a hustle play no one sees

It may not show on the scoreboard. It may not make the crowd cheer. But coaches see it. Teammates respect it. And you grow from it.

If your first thought is “how do I be the hero?”… you’ve already lost.

Because heroes don’t declare themselves. They do their job - and let the moment speak.

6. You froze after your first mistake and forgot to play

You step onto the court. First touch of the ball. You pass… but it's off. The other team steals it. They score. Or maybe you miss an easy shot. The crowd murmurs. You glance at the bench. Coach looks… unimpressed.

And just like that - it happens. Your brain shuts down. Thoughts start yelling:

“I messed up.”

“Coach’s gonna bench me.”

“Everyone saw that.”

“I should’ve passed…”

You’re still on the court, but mentally… you're stuck on that play. Meanwhile, the game moves on. Teammates run, pass, defend - and you're lost in your own mind.

Not because you don’t have skill. Not because you weren’t ready. But because you chose to live inside a mistake.

Mistakes aren’t optional. They’re part of the game. Part of growth. Part of every athlete's path.

It’s not the mistake that defines you. It’s how quickly you come back from it.

If you freeze, you miss what’s next. And sometimes… what’s next was your moment.

Conclusion – They all came for you. But did you show up?

The coach watched the whole game. Maybe not directly. Maybe he didn’t say a word. But he saw everything.

The sponsor asked afterward:

“Who was that kid… number X?”

“Ah. Too bad. He looked promising.”

The girl or boy you liked? They saw that moment when you walked in late, laces undone, out of breath, asking to be subbed out after two minutes. Maybe they didn’t judge you. Maybe they just looked away.

And you? Where were you?

You - the one who trained for this moment. Who dreamed of it. Who pictured how it would go. Where were you?

You were physically there…But mentally, emotionally, athletically - you were missing.

Because of a shoelace. A phone. Too much water. One mistake.

Because of lack of focus.

And now it’s over. And you say:

“Bad luck.”

“Next time, I’ll kill it.”

But… what if there’s no next time? What if that one moment was the moment? And you missed it?

Years later, at a gathering, someone mentions an old game. A game you barely remember, but slowly, it comes back - pieces of it. Images.Then someone says:

“Remember that match when a coach came just to see someone… number X?”

And suddenly your stomach drops.

You remember. You were number X. You played that game, but you weren’t really there.

How do you feel now?

Would you want to turn back time?

Or maybe… just maybe…

It’s time to ask a more important question:

Can you start showing up - for real - today?