Happy Friday -

This week’s thought highlights one of my favorite stories: Admiral James Stockdale’s. If you don’t know his story, it’s worth looking up. His mindset and resilience during eight years as a POW led to what’s now known as The Stockdale Paradox.

It’s one of the best lessons we’ve found for athletes: how to stay confident and hopeful while also facing hard truths head-on.

Per usual, we have plenty of great content out for you this week, plus upcoming events and trainings. We appreciate you being here.

Let’s get into it. Happy Friday ☕️,
Matt & Deemer

In honor of Year 5 of BIC Committed Men’s, tke a look at some of our past men’s BIC Committed attendees from 2021-2024 here. We will share our notable women’s alumni from BIC Committed next week.

Both our men’s and women’s BIC Committed events are now live! If you are a committed 2026 or 2027 looking to learn, train and compete with the best in your class, learn more below.

Forwarded this email? You can subscribe here to stay in the loop 👍.

Admiral Jim Stockdale was the highest-ranking U.S. military officer captured in the “Hanoi Hilton” prisoner-of-war camp during the Vietnam War. He spent over eight years in brutal conditions: beaten, isolated, and given no reason to believe he’d ever make it home.

Yet he did.

Years later, business author Jim Collins interviewed him for Good to Great and asked how he survived when so many others didn’t.

Stockdale’s answer became a timeless lesson:

When Collins asked who didn’t make it, Stockdale replied:

If you’d like to dive deeper into his story, check out the article linked above or read the full book titled Good to Great by Jim Collins.

This is the paradox. You hold two truths at once:

Many people lean too far one way or the other. Some lose faith the moment things get hard. Others believe blindly and ignore what’s really in front of them.

Great athletes (and great people) live in the middle and can navigate the tension between the two. They are able to hold two seemingly contradictory thoughts as the same time. They see reality clearly, but refuse to lose hope.

As athletes, we often face moments when our confidence is tested.:

The lesson from this paradox is simple: confront the facts of the situation, but never stop believing in yourself.

Recognize that while you may not be where you want to be now, you can and will get there. You are not where you want to be… YET.

We see players fall on both ends of the spectrum. Some struggle with believing in themselves, while others fail to face the reality of where they stand. The key lies in honesty and confidence.

Be honest with yourself. Are your skills really as good as you think? Did you really deserve to make the team? Do you deserve to get recruited? If you have a coach willing to give you honest feedback, ask for it even if the answer stings. Look inward, versus pointing outward.

Then, double down on confidence. Believe in yourself more than anyone else does. Maybe it’s your mindset that needs adjusting, or maybe you just need more reps to build confidence. Either way, find a way to cultivate unwavering self-belief.

Be your own biggest advocate.

Coach Class and Coach Dunn

Our Fall Showcase was a success! Over 330 athletes set foot in Delaware to learn, train, and compete. Check out some Inside Lacrosse evals of some of the top women’s 2028 players in attendance.

“Marquardt is a presence on the field. Her draw work allowed her to place the ball where she wanted it to go. Her dodging style was strong and concise — she knew where she wanted to go and was able to read and react to the defense’s decisions. She was strong in her dodges, but team orientated when the double came as she could see the pass and put the ball into an open teammate’s stick.” - Inside Lacrosse

“Cymbor is a do-it-all midfielder. Every time you looked up, she was there making a play. Her grit and toughness shown in her ability to track down 50-50 balls between the 30s. She constantly worked to get open offensively, which resulted in her textbook split dodge and smooth finish.” - Inside Lacrosse

"A dynamic defender, she handled the pressure of 1v1s with poise and confidence. She handled man-down transition defense with composure, slowing the play until her teammates could get back, preventing a fastbreak scoring opportunity. She also gained speed and traction out of the defensive end, pushing the pace.” - Inside Lacrosse

Check out our @fclbestinclass Instagram page for the best highlights and content from our Fall Showcase and read the full list of standouts from Inside Lacrosse below.

We are pumped to announce the addition of Harvard junior attacker Jack Speidell as an FCL Athlete! Stay tuned for drills, tips and advice from Jack throughout the year. We will be announcing more in weeks to come.

Reach parents, players, and coaches at every level—from youth to pro—with a single Friday email.

The Weekly Thought is one of lacrosse’s most-read newsletters, delivering insights, tips, and stories to a rapidly growing global audience.

If you’re interested in reaching this highly engaged community, reply to this email or contact us at [email protected] for sponsorship opportunities