Norfolk State bowling coach emphasizes positive mindset

Aundray Darden embarks on his 15th season in 2020-21 doing work with the women’s bowling method at Norfolk State College. He used 14 decades as an assistant mentor with NSU from 2005-19, exactly where he was instrumental in the improvement of the Spartan bowlers and the elevation of the plan. Image and caption courtesy of NSUSpartans.com.

by Kingsley Hunter 

Aundray Darden, Associate Head Coach of the Norfolk State bowling crew, gave a tiny perception on his career and how he helps the Lady Spartans come to be a effective team. He assisted leadvertisement the Spartans to four consecutive MEAC Southern Division titles in 2011-14. Coach Darden prides himself on affirmations and encouraging his athletes be the finest they can on and off the bowling alley. He described a pyramid that all his players have to comply with, which displays the terms “Commitment,” “Motivation,” “Sacrifice,” and “T.E.A.M.”  

“Every group from 2007 till now, they will all have this commonality, these four terms that we say and abide by,” Darden discussed.  

Coach then goes on to talk about famous faculty basketball mentor John Picket, a person who received 10 national titles as the head mentor of the UCLA Bruins and gives credit score to where the pyramid thought arrived from.   

“He has a guide called Wood on management. He has a pyramid like this and it’s a lot a lot more complicated.” 

Coach Darden received his inspiration from a person of the most thriving coaches out of any sport in John Wood and hopes this affirmation system will do wonders for his Lady Spartans.  

“Starting from the initial working day of exercise (it is) motivation, remaining fully commited to becoming listed here every day as an person. And how we get to dedication is tricky operate and preparation. One more just one is inspiration you should be enthusiastic. I convey to them to have a few targets and one particular of them is academics. Produce them down and give them to me and we will loalright at them at the stop of the period. Since all objectives should really have a timeline,” Darden said.  

Darden conveys the significance of motivation and commitment to his gamers and retains them accountable not only just in the bowling alley but also in the classroom. He carries on to talk about his affirmation pyramid and why doing work as a team and the value of sacrifice are all too significant in the planet of sports.  

“Now the moment you are motivated, what are you ready to do? You have absent residence and you are prepared to get it, but what are you inclined to do to get it? How much are you inclined to go? In which is your restrict? And I always say to obstacle your limits and by no means limit your troubles and that comes in sacrifice, self-sacrifice, and the sacrifice of putting the staff very first,” Darden reported.  

Darden hammers the idea that the group will come just before the specific, and that sacrificing prospects to loyalty and it makes the staff stronger. Darden elaborates on how bowling can be as common as other sports these types of as football and basketball.  

“I feel instruction, just placing bowling out there and educating them a better degree of bowling so that they know there is a further stage than just the principles,” Darden reported.

Mentor Darden cites American Bowler Pete Weber as his preferred bowler to observe and admire. He also uses his style of engage in as a blueprint to be thriving for his workforce. Weber has won 30-7 titles on the PBA Tour and has gained bowling’s U.S Open up five occasions, which is a file.  

“I’m an outdated college dude, so you know Pete Weber is the dude! He is just legendary and his confidence and machoism, and his potential to back again it up. When the video game was altering, when new bowlers had been bowling with two palms and seriously hooking the ball, Pete just caught to the fundamentals and that is what I attempt to educate and preach to my players,” claimed Darden.