Trade demands, transfer portals and parents moving their child from club to club. This is becoming the new normal. We live in a world where if something doesn’t work out quickly, athletes are on to the NEXT… coach, program, club or school.

For folks that live in this world making a move is always better. This is based on a belief that their current coach or program doesn’t understand the athlete’s potential, put them in a position to thrive or take full advantage of their talents. Often, this decision is made over a very short period of time.

It feels like playing the long game, one that involves being patient and trusting a process, is a thing of the past.

However, a recent sighting was made of an athlete playing the long game. Sport watchers are abuzz! Fans and media have documented the unique behaviour of Mason Rudolph, the current starting quarterback of the six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. He was officially placed on the endangered species list on Saturday, January 6th, 2024. This was following his third win in a row, taking the Steelers one short step away from making the NFL playoffs. Go Steelers!

What makes him a rare breed? Rudolph was an All-American player at Oklahoma State, who played a limited role in his six years with the Steelers after being drafted. This included not playing at all in 2022. He stayed the course, continued to work on his game and waited for his opportunity. Would he have left if a better opportunity came up with another team? Quite possibly, but there is little mention of any desire to be traded in the media.

A six year wait to reach what he believed was his potential. Being patient. Thriving. Truly remarkable. It landed him on a short list.

Sport is complicated. Mental, physical and emotional development, for most athletes, take years, not days and weeks. Raise the stakes and the level of talent, and the developmental journey becomes even more difficult. There is no denying that a different environment can be a game-changer for an athlete, but only in the event that it creates the right opportunity for them to thrive, both on and off the field of play.

For a long time, the endangered species was the athlete who couldn’t stay the course, who was unable to remain committed. Today, it seems, this situation has flipped. Without question, more engaged parents and a massive increase in the number of people (often referred to as handlers) who wish to influence young athletes, is at play. One contributing factor appears to be externalizing the responsibility of the athletes’ journey.

Blame the coach. Blame the club. “This isn’t the athlete’s fault. Let’s move them to a better situation.”

So few athletes make it from youth sport to college, let alone on to the pros. Where is playing the long game most important? For the most part, professional athletes are grown adults and have made their way through the most critical developmental phases. Remaining committed and patient is not as important for them given their previous development journey. At the college level, not recognizing the complex and varied developmental experiences that eighteen to twenty-two years olds go through, can have significant consequences. However, the most harmful impact is likely at the youth sport level.

Athletes between the ages of twelve to seventeen thrive off of stability. The athlete that is constantly on the move is one that, most likely, is not establishing foundational principles and habits, ones that will be with them for a lifetime. Frankly, there needs to be more Mason Rudolphs playing youth sport.

If sport leaders were environmental conservationists, they would make a call to action that protects this endangered species. Hopefully, Mason’s disciplined approach and steadfast belief in himself will inspire thousands of athletes to hang tight, be patient and play the long game!