What's an Athlete's Journal? 

A journal provides an athlete with a place to set goals, reflect, grapple with issues, keep track of training ideas, and record results as well as plan, scheme, ponder, rant, question, draw, and rejoice. As with Team Notebooks, there is no one right way to utilize these books. Athletes like Serena Williams use their journal writing for motivation and focusing.   
     Red Sox pitching ace Curt Schilling could be seen on the bench between innings writing notes on the pitches he delivered to certain players during particular situations. Schilling used a journal as a workbook and focused on the technical aspects of his sport. And what about hitters? Click here to read about baseball slugger Carlos Delgado's journal.
    At Duke University, 2006 National Basketball Coach of the Year Gail Goestenkors used journals in a different way. “Each year I ask the players 10 specific questions that they answer in their journal. So the journal… is a keepsake for years down the line… remembering what their hopes, dreams,
and desires were.”
    In England, 16-year-old soccer players who become apprentices to professional teams are required to keep a journal about training sessions, games, diet….  And if your goal is to make 
the US Ski Team and are fortunate enough to land a spot at Vermont's renowned Burke Mountain Academy… there’s a good chance that writing 
will be a part of your training.  

What do athletes say about Journals?

"Writing down your feelings in a notebook or journal can help clear out negative thoughts and emotions that keep you feeling stuck.”    
   –Serena Williams
     Tennis Champion, 23 Grand Slam Titles

"I like free writing… it’s a meditation, trying to open up the mind and go for it.”
   –David Chamberlain
      Nor/Am SuperTour Cross-Country Ski Champion 
      US Nordic World Championship Team

"No one likes skiing with a cluttered mind, so put it on paper and free some space.”
   –Carter Robertson 
      Alpine Ski Racer, Burke Mountain Academy  

Sample Journal Prompts

–What do you dislike about yourself as an athlete and why? 
–Think back to a time when an athlete or team you admired failed in an event that they were favored to win. Describe your feelings. 
–What is your favorite place to compete and why?
–Why can this statement hold true: “Some days, doing poorly is the most important result that could happen.”
–What is a good opponent?
–What’s a great memory that you have as a competitive athlete?