Student Athlete Identity: Competing with Excellence as School Games Begin

Sandy Robinson
Aug 17
2 min read

GRIT Sunday Series: Week 3 Devotion | August 17, 2025

The wait is over, the first school volleyball games of the season are here. All the hours in the gym, conditioning, practices, and preparation have led to this moment.

This week is a test of your student athlete identity, not just your skills, but how you compete. Will you play with composure? With integrity? With resilience?

The games are where your preparation and character show up side by side.

Weekly Reset Theme: Excellence in Competition

Excellence isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up with focus, effort, and integrity in every play.

How you compete reflects more than your scoreboard. It reflects your student athlete identity, who you are when things go well, and who you are when the game gets tough.

Excellence looks like:

Hustling after every ball
Supporting teammates after mistakes
Competing with integrity, win or lose
Staying composed under pressure

Student Athlete Identity- Weekly Check-In:

“How do I want people to describe the way I competed this week?”

Your highlights won’t always be about stats. Sometimes it’s about how you carried yourself, how you treated others, and how you responded in big moments.

Scripture of the Week:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” - Colossians 3:23

This verse reminds us that true excellence comes when our effort is an act of worship, not just a performance for people watching.

What We See About God:

God values effort and heart over outward achievement. He cares how we show up and why we compete.

When we give our best with the right heart, we’re honoring Him.

GRIT Skill in Focus: Integrity

Confidence and resilience are teammates, one fuels the other.

Wins and losses will come and go, but integrity lasts. Competing with integrity means your student athlete identity is rooted in honesty, respect, and accountability.

Mindset Tool: The Reset Breath

In every game, you’ll face pressure moments. One of the best tools you can use is a reset breath:

Inhale through your nose slowly for 4 seconds
Hold for 2 seconds
Exhale slowly through your mouth for 6 seconds

Do this between plays, before a serve, or after a mistake. It clears your head and helps you refocus on the next play.

Parent Conversation Starter:

Ask your athlete:

“What’s one way you want to show excellence in your first school game this week?”

Then cheer them on for effort and integrity, not just the final score.

Wrap-Up:

Your first school games are a chance to show the world your skills, but more importantly, to show your student athlete identity.

Compete with GRIT, play with integrity, and pursue excellence in every moment.

Remember: wins and losses fade, but who you become lasts forever.

Sandy Robinson, High Performance Coach for Women and Teens

About the Author

Sandy Robinson is a High Performance Coach, CEO of GRIT Volleyball Club, and a passionate mentor for young athletes.

As one of the 5 founding leaders of GRIT Volleyball Club, she’s dedicated to helping students grow in confidence, character, and competitive grit, both on and off the court. When she’s not coaching, you’ll find her encouraging other women to pursue excellence in life, faith, business, and leadership.