#41 Mastering Your Fate & Captaining Your Soul with Carly WOPAT

#41 Mastering Your Fate & Captaining Your Soul with Carly WOPAT

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March 24, 2016

Athlete Case Study: Professional volleyball player who graduated from Stanford University, plays for the USA National Team, and currently plays in Ankara, Turkey

BACKGROUND

In this athlete case study, we focus on what it takes to overcome the most difficult times in our lives. Having people around you to lean on, finding what outlets work best to express yourself, and focusing on doing what is best to accomplish your dreams are just a few of the topics we cover with our infinitely resilient guest: Carly Wopat.  

BIOGRAPHY

• Born, Carly Wopat in Santa Barbara, California on October 13, 1992.

• Parents: Ron and Kathy, younger brothers: Jackson and Eli. twin sister: Sam (passed away in 2012).

• Graduated in 2014 from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology and a concentration in Human Performance and Behavior.

• Began gymnastics when she was 3 and was a tri-sport athlete in high school.

• Trains with the USA National Team.

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PERSONAL QUOTE

Invictus

“It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.” - William Ernest Henley

Most influential people in their life:

Liz Towne-Gilbert; Club coach, great person that has taught me a lot of life skills

Kerri Walsh; volleyball athlete, spreads light and happiness to everyone

Ron Wopat; father, humble and is a very caring person

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS

• What has been the biggest struggle in your life?

• What can we do to get through these hard times?

• Share a moment that you feel you accomplished something that you have been trying to accomplish for so long.

• What are some non-negotiables you must do to stay on your journey?

• What are the most important things to do to be ready for your next matches?

KEY LESSONS

• The world is a beautiful place but there is also tragedy and loss

• After losing someone very close to you, get to decide how it changes you.

Four years ago, “my family experienced an unexpected suicide. My twin sister Sam had been struggling with depression. She was a beautiful person through and through. We did everything together growing up...losing her was devastating. Everything I knew came crumbling down and a huge piece of me was lost forever. It is a void that can never be filled and she can never be replaced. Accepting this is the most difficult thing; that things will never be as they were. You get to decide whether (in times like these) you cower from life and fight everything uselessly, or embrace it…and attempt to find your footing in life again.” CW @ 14:20

• Finding outlets for our emotions and ways to express ourselves is a major means to get through difficult times in our lives.

“I had a sculpture class that I could go in and just spend hours working on projects and building things; an outlet of self expression through art. I also wrote poetry, taught myself how to play guitar, got into photography. I have just learned how to express myself and get emotions and feelings out through different types of media.” CW @21:00

• There is strength in the people around you and in new ways to find outlets.

• Different mentors bring different things to the table. It is important to go about these mentor-mentee relationships with an open mind and receive advice without judgement.

• Dreams may seem impossible at the early stages of the pursuit, but keeping up the grind is the only way to achieve them.  

“One of my biggest dreams was to play on the national team and play professional volleyball. I would look up to these girls playing the highest level and try to imagine myself in their position. It seems so impossible when being so young. Just kept climbing the ladder.” CW @ 27:00

• Cross training and diversifying activities is a great way to increase mental and physical health.

• Recovery is crucial in performing at your peak

• Search for resources and people that are subject matter experts to learn about staying healthy.

ATHLETE'S TIP JAR

What is one insight you would give to athletes in your position?

“Do not let your performance define you. Even if volleyball is life (or any other sport), it can overtake your mind and everything you do. When we lose or don’t perform as good as we want, we feel bad. Just know that playing bad doesn’t mean you are a bad person! If you make a mistake don’t check yourself out. It is only a mistake in that moment. Don’t let your performance define you.” CW @ 48:00

What advice would you give to your younger self?

“Follow your passions. Don’t worry about going on the route society has set up for youth today. Everyone has opinions on how kids should transition and what the career path should be. Just because yours is different doesn’t mean it is wrong, it’s just your path.” CW @ 51:05

INFORMATION

Resources Mentioned:

The 4 Hour Workweek - Tim Ferris

The 4 Hour Body - Tim Ferris

The Model Health Show - Sean Stevenson

Invictus - Poem

Past/Current Teams:

Stanford University

RC Cannes Volley-Ball

Halkbank Bayan Voleybol Takimi

FOLLOW CARLY HERE:

Instagram | Twitter | Blog

Snapchat: carwo | Email: carwopat@gmail.com

DEFINITION OF BEYOND ATHLETIC?

“It means not just being an amazing athlete but (also) having skills, passions, and hobbies outside of athletics. It is really starting to grow, being beyond athletic. It is amazing to balance and juggle so many things. Being an athlete at this level is a big feat, but having other skills as well is amazing.” - CW

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#40 How To Train When No One Is Looking with Russ ROSE

#40 How To Train When No One Is Looking with Russ ROSE

Expert Game Plan Session: Into the mind of the legendary NCAA Division I Volleyball Coach

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March 20, 2016

BACKGROUND

There are coaches, and then there is Russ Rose. In this game plan session, we get a chance to ask Russ a few key questions about volleyball in the U.S. along with the international frontier. We also delve into what it takes to be an athlete at a high level and the path to get there. Russ goes through the golden nuggets that have helped him in his career and will help in the career of any athlete. Enjoy!

BIOGRAPHY

Born, Russell Rose, from Chicago on November 29, 1953. Married Lori in 1986 and is the father of four sons: Jonathan, Michael, Christopher, and Nicholas. Graduated from George Williams College in 1975 and completed his master’s degree at Nebraska in 1978 with his thesis on volleyball statistics. He is now going on his 38th year as coach at Penn State with an overall coaching record of 1189-186 (.865 winning percentage) ranking him first in NCAA Division I history. Other accolades include the AVCA National Coach of the Year five times (more than any other Division I coach), 7 National Championships (the most women’s volleyball titles of all-time), and has appeared in all 35 NCAA tournaments. As arguably the best coach in NCAA history, Russ is doing something right. Let’s find out what that is!

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TOP QUOTES

“Find a way to be relevant. You have to get your game to such that there is something about you that the other people have to have in their life.” @15:05

“Everyone can teach a kid how to serve and teach the skills, but what separates programs sometimes is when you try to work on the whole person and you  try to give them some advice on other areas of their development...I want the kids to empower themselves and represent themselves.” @12:15

“The people in life who advance the furthest are really good listeners. They are not (thinking about) asking the right questions, they are listening. They are observing and can pretty much predict what the outcome will be (just from listening).” @16:25

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS

• Just as you had mentors, how important is mentorship in athletics?

• What are the top mistakes you are seeing college recruits make?

• What is the difference between U.S.-native athletes and international athletes?

• How do you see skill overspecialization and overuse affecting younger athletes?

• How does the current collegiate system help student-athletes?

• What pros and cons have you heard from the transition of athletes from college to professional?

• What questions are players not asking that they should be?

• How is the future landscape of volleyball going to change?

• How have habits and rituals helped you to build your program over the years?

KEY LESSONS

• “The greatest gift a mentor can offer a mentee is to never be judgemental, be available to answer questions, and give guidance in an area that the mentee wants to improve.” @1:10

• High school players sometimes don't understand how hard college level can be. Expectations are much higher. Sure, some levels are not that challenging but then again some are the opposite. Another challenge for younger players is that they don’t understand that everyday, it must be competitive. Every day matters, every drill matters. Either you want to be great and give 100%, or you are going to find yourself sitting on the bench over someone who gets that because they have the different attitude. @3:15

• Internationals players that come to the U.S. for college are much better students than you would expect. Sometimes it can be difficult for college players to go abroad to play professional because they have to understand the new mindset. They could be battling other international players for a position that means life or death to that player. Having a lackadaisical attitude is not going to be a successful one. It is a job. You better train hard. @5:10

• Kids in the U.S. play too much when they are young. All of these concrete-floored convention centers facilitate the business side of the sport, but it is rare to find kids coming to college without injuries. If players advance to a higher level, usually they are the ones who are the most in-tune with their body. They know what to do to stay as healthy as they can be. Every aspect of stretching, rest, diet, and nutrition are important.

• The college system in this country provides a good skeleton to facilitate older players guiding and helping the younger ones. For some sports maybe this doesn’t happen as much (like basketball) because the younger players opt to go play professional a year or two into their collegiate career. “Team sports expect the older players to help out the youngers and show them all of the shortcuts. Our college systems have access to so many people and resources like nutritionists, doctors, massage therapists, sports therapists, etc. Even some pro teams don’t have these. Sometimes it may even be more than we need but those who have access should take advantage of all of these nice opportunities.” @7:25

• “A lot of players whether it is the national team or other teams can get caught up in the politics. In our program, the best are going to play. If a freshman beats out a senior, that a problem for them and not for me. That’s life. nobody say it’s going to be fair.” Sometimes the timing is just bad. Look at Michael Jordan for example. Think of the players behind him that would have received playing time if MJ had not been in the picture. Those players just have to realize that the timing might have been unfortunate. @12:30

• Players have to find out what level of play there are at. Then, figure out what is important to them. Sometimes that means whether that be a chance to win a championship or play for a lower level to get playing time.

• As for the future international landscape of volleyball, every country is different. Everyone is territorial and don’t want their stars to leave. Back in the day when USA and Russia were top 2, the Russia team had the KGB bodyguards to make sure no one from Russia made a run for it. They knew it and we knew it. The top players were able to communicate due to a mutual respect but it was an interesting thing to see in play. @22:50

• Every play matters. And the players have to know to play hard, play together and have fun when they are doing it. Some people you can lose along the way but (as a coach) the most important thing is if the kids know you care. You can’t work them too hard because they know you care. One of the challenges with coaching is when coaches lose site at times that’s when they break their kids down to teach skills but forget to build them back up. You have to continue to always monitor the development of your players and hope that they get it. Not everybody can go to the top 5% and earn a scholarship. And Even fewer have a chance to go from college to national team or pro.  You hope that the kids that had a chance to do it embrace it and really go after it hard. @22:10

RUSS’S TIP JAR

Advice for coaches abroad to focus not just on their players’ skills, but also helping them develop as people @17:30

That is tough because if you are a national coach or a coach in a foreign country, you are going to be judged by the development of the players you have. You want your players to advance and be well received but a lot of countries don't want their kids to leave. There are a lot of great opportunities for international students to attend schools in the U.S. and still advance their sport as well and prepare themselves for a future outside of the sport.

Resources or mindset you have that helps you in your work everyday @24:48

It’s about your players having an opportunity to pursue their dreams. It’s never about me, it’s about them. Their assumption is that they have way more time than they really do. I want those kids to be able to focus and dream big and feel good about their experience.

Recent must-read @26:00

Legacy. A book about a rugby team and what it takes to represent the jersey and be the best that they can be.

Advice to coaches @26:55

Coaches need to work hard. They need to get people around the program that can help the athletes achieve their goal. It is not always possible to relate to all 20 players. Some players will relate to others in the program. It is important to have coaches in your program that can do that.

Advice to players @27:15

For players, it’s about working hard. Working when you are sore or tired. The greatest athletes produce the greatest results when they are training and nobody knows they are training.

DEFINITION OF SUCCESS?

“From a coaching standpoint, success is getting people to do things that they don’t start the day wanting to do. For players, success might be reaching their potential as athletes. Teams might value success that they are better than the sum of the parts that make up the group. I look at it as I want the players that play for me to feel good about their experience. That they were treated fairly. That they had an opportunity to get better. An opportunity to play at the highest level, and that the university was as committed to them just as we ask the players to be to each other and the community.” @23:45

CONNECT WITH RUSS ROSE

Penn State Profile | Volleyball Express Camps | Great Article on Russ

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Natania LEVAK | My International Student-Athlete Experience

Natania LEVAK | My International Student-Athlete Experience

“Going to a foreign school is a big thing and a hard decision to make. You just have to have a strong mindset. Everything is in your head. If you’re determined to do something, if you set goals for yourself and do everything you can to accomplish them you’re on the right track. If you keep saying “I can’t”, “I’ll do it later”, “I’m not good enough” just remember: Yes you can! Do it now! You’re good enough! Bad thoughts won’t get you anywhere. Believe in yourself and everything else will come naturally. Give 100% each and every new day and never stop reaching for your dreams and goals.
”

— Natania "Nati" Levak

First, a little background on you and the school...

Your full name: Natania Levak
Your country of origin? Croatia
our last team in your home country before attending school internationally? OK Marina Kastela
Name of your college/university? West Virginia University
This school is in... USA
...your sport? Volleyball (Middle Blocker)  ..your jersey # ? 13
...received a scholarship? Yes, Full Athletic
...enter your major(s): Undecided
...select your status in school: Freshman

PERSONAL profile link from your school’s website:
http://www.wvusports.com/teams.cfm?sport=volleyball

Tell your experience BEFORE you got to your foreign school...

...what/who helped you in your process of deciding/getting to a foreign school:
Elite Sport Student's Mentors, Ryan Jay Owens, Coaches in my home country, Parents, Another Student-Athlete(s) , 

Rate your experience with RJO (Ryan Jay Owens) out of 10 (Fantastic): 10

Comments for RJO?
Ryan is the kindest. He always has the time to help others, he is super patient and answers whatever questions you have and always has the best advices. I know everyone wants to find a person that will never trick you, that will not let you down, just someone you can fully trust and Ryan is that person. Not only does he do all he can to help you, but you can also see him as a person to look up to - with the lifestyle he lives, the mindset he has and his intelligence. The more you get to know him, the more you'll be glad that you've contacted him in the first place. I personally couldn't choose a better person to help me get through all these preps to go study in the USA. RJO you rock! :) [Hvala Nati! Big hug!]

Rate your experience with Beyond Athletic’s Podcast out of 10 (Love it!): 10

Comments for Beyond Athletic Podcast:
I think the page is very helpful, it can answer a lot of your questions and you can learn so many new things through it's content. It has some great posts talking about preventing injuries, how nutriton and sleep is important for your progress, how to give 100% without fear and it has interviews with ex and current players in USA so you can get a better picture about what it's like to be here, how the days look like and all the things you would wanna know before you come here. All the posts are based on people talking about the things they've experienced themseves so you would definitely get a better understanding of being a high level athlete and you would get more prepared for all the things that you have to go through. I would recommend this page to anyone because it helped me a lot, helped me in the decision whether I should come to the States or not and I certainly do not regret my choice.

Rate your experience with Elite Sport Student’s Mentors out of 10 (Great): 10

Comments for Elite Squared AKA Elite Sport Students’ Mentors:
When I was preparing to go to the USA I had dozens of questions I wanted to ask and RJO connected me to a couple of girls (student mentors) that I can talk to because they've gone through the same thing as I did. I talked to Milica Kubura, Edina Selimovic, Edina Begic etc. I started to contact some other girls too by myself and it was nice to hear stories and experiences of the people just like you. It gives you additional courage, confidence and helps you make a decision of where you want to study and what your goals are.

Did you pay for their service? If so, how much?
No, I didn't. It is so amazing to know every help I got from Beyond Athletic and RJO was completely free and just selflessly and generously given to me. I'm grateful that I found this site!

...how difficult was it to decide to go to a foreign school out of 10 (Very difficult)? 8

... If you knew what you know NOW... how difficult would it have been to decide to go to a foreign school out of 10 (Very Difficult)?? 0, Easy

What were the main things that convinced you to choose to go to a foreign school? :)
I've heard so many different experiences and they were all positive. I knew volleyball and education were very important to me and there just wasn't a better place to combine those 2 in a very high level than the USA. My parents are the ones who gave me the biggest encouragement and just made me feel like I was making the right decision. Now that I'm here at WVU, with every new day I realize how grateful I am to be here and that this is the best possible option for me to grow not only as a player, but as a person in general.

...What, if any, were the difficulties in choosing to go to a foreign school?
Well personally I was being indecisive for a long time. I didn't know if I was ready to leave my family, friends and my country and literally start a new life all by myself. I got so many encouragement from a lot of people and as the time went on I realized that's the best thing for me to do. It took me about 6 months to finally say that I'm ready to go to the States. The preparations were crazy, there was just a lot of things to do and I wasn't sure if everything's gonna be done on time. But it all turned out perfectly and now I'm here, making a lot of new friends, learning so many new things and enjoying life!

... and how did you overcome these obstacles to get to a foreign school?
I just did a lot of reading, research, watched a lot of videos, talked to some people that have already studied in USA or are currently studying there and the more I did all these stuff the more I got confident about me going to a foreign school.

... how helpful were the staff at the school with getting you admitted out of 10 (Super Helpful)? 10

What things helped you get everything done to get to a foreign school?
I think my parents are the ones I have to thank the most about that. They're the best!

Why did you decide to go to a foreign school?
Because those kinds of things are opportunities that come once in a lifetime and that can help you build the person you wanna be and get more responsible and mature. Learning about a new culture, living in a different society, experiencing new lifestyles and mindsets can only help you grow as a person and become more independent.

Lastly, your experience at your foreign school...

...your happiness with international student-athletics out of 10 (LOVE IT!)? 10

...What, if any, were the difficulties to adjust to life in your school’s country?
American food, getting up really early for practices, getting used to difficult practices which drain a lot of energy from you in the start and you just wanna sleep but in the same time you have to study and go to classes...

... and how did you overcome these obstacles to adjust to school life?
Eventually you get used to all those things and they just become a part of your daily routine. You just have to stay strong and think about how all those things are only gonna help you improve yourself

...What were your best experiences in your foreign school?
Meeting all of my coaches and my new teammates which are better than I could imagine, meeting new people, making new friendships, perfecting my english speaking skills... What amazes me most is seeing all these people here just trying to improve themselves on a daily basis, not only athletes but all the other people. I think this change of environment can only do good things for me. I couldn't like the fact thay I'm here more than I do! I get positive experiences each and every day!

Anything else you’d like to mention?
Going to a foreign school is a big thing and a hard decision to make. You just have to have a strong mindset. Everything is in your head. If you're determined to do something, if you set goals for yourself and do everything you can to accomplish them you're on the right track. If you keep saying "I can't", "I'll do it later", "I'm not good enough" just remember: Yes you can! Do it now! You're good enough! Bad thoughts won't get you anywhere. Believe in yourself and everything else will come naturally. Give 100% each and every new day and never stop reaching for your dreams and goals. 

Did you enjoy talking about this?

Yes

Would you be interested in an international athlete network?

Yes

Do you plan to be a PRO in your sport after college?

Yes